About 250 demonstrators took to the streets of Dakar on Saturday to demand the release of 18 Senegalese football supporters currently imprisoned in Morocco following incidents at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in January.
The protesters, carrying placards and waving Senegalese flags, marched through parts of the capital chanting “Free the hostages” as they called on Moroccan authorities to reconsider the sentences handed down to the fans.
The 18 supporters were tried on February 19 by a court in Rabat on charges of hooliganism. They received prison terms ranging from three months to one year. Nine of them were sentenced to one year in jail and fined 460 euros ($544).
The arrests stem from a confrontation late in the AFCON final when Morocco was awarded a penalty. A section of Senegalese supporters reportedly clashed with security officials in an attempt to gain access to the pitch during the tense moment.
Despite the disruption, Senegal went on to secure a 1–0 victory in extra time after Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the disputed penalty.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, told parliament that the judgment was excessive. He stated that Morocco’s handling of the case “does not honour” the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
Sonko assured lawmakers that the Senegalese government is doing “everything it has to do” to secure the release of the detained nationals.
The demonstration in Dakar reflects growing public concern over the fate of the imprisoned supporters, with many calling for diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue swiftly.
AFCON: Protesters March in Dakar Over Jailing of Senegalese Fans in Morocco
