Morocco's King Pardons 18 Senegalese Fans After Violent Cup Final Clash

Morocco’s king has pardoned 18 Senegalese football fans jailed for violent incidents during the Africa Cup of Nations final. The decision came ahead of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha and was framed as a gesture to strengthen ties between the two nations.

The match itself had ended in controversy, with Senegal initially winning the trophy before later being stripped of the title in favour of Morocco. Trouble erupted during the final when Senegalese fans tried to invade the pitch. The unrest followed a late penalty awarded to Morocco, prompting Senegalese players to walk off in protest. After the game, 18 Senegalese supporters received prison sentences of up to a year for damaging facilities and violent behaviour.

Senegal won the match 1-0 and celebrated lifting the trophy. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later overturned the result, declaring Morocco the champions instead. Senegal officially appealed the decision, but the ruling stood.

In the aftermath, senior officials from both countries urged calm and condemned hate speech directed at sub-Saharan residents. The tensions also led Morocco’s king to intervene, pardoning the jailed fans on humanitarian grounds. Some of those released had already served their sentences by the time the pardon was announced.

Despite the fallout, Morocco and Senegal reaffirmed their commitment to friendly relations. Leaders from both nations signed agreements to expand trade and investment, signalling a move to ease diplomatic strains. The pardon allows the 18 fans to return home, closing a contentious chapter from the tournament. Meanwhile, the CAF’s decision to award the title to Morocco remains in place, though Senegal’s appeal highlighted lingering disputes. Both countries have since focused on reinforcing economic and diplomatic cooperation.