Bassirou Diomaye Faye has disclosed that his personal appeal to Mohammed VI for a royal pardon for jailed Senegalese football supporters was unsuccessful.
Speaking during a press conference, President Faye explained that he had written to the Moroccan monarch to both congratulate him on hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament and request clemency for the detained fans.
According to him, several efforts were made through diplomatic, legal, and religious channels, including appeals involving the Tijaniyya order, but none succeeded.
The appeal came after the Rabat Court of Appeal upheld the convictions of 18 Senegalese supporters arrested over violent incidents linked to the chaotic AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal.
The court reportedly maintained prison sentences ranging from three months to one year, alongside fines, while rejecting requests from the defence team to review additional video evidence. Judges ruled that the incidents, which allegedly involved rioting, pitch invasions, and attacks on security personnel, were already clearly documented.
According to reports, nine supporters received one-year prison terms and fines, six others were sentenced to six months, while three received three-month jail terms. A French national of Algerian origin was also reportedly sentenced to three months for allegedly throwing a bottle during the unrest.
The clashes occurred in Rabat during the AFCON final, a match that later saw Morocco awarded the title by Confederation of African Football after Senegal’s walk-off was ruled a violation of tournament regulations.
Despite objections from defence lawyer Patrick Kabo, who argued that the wrong individuals had been convicted, Moroccan authorities maintained that there was sufficient evidence linking the accused to the violence and disorder inside the stadium.
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