A Moroccan court has upheld prison sentences against 18 Senegalese football fans convicted in connection with a pitch invasion during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, three months after the chaotic scenes in Rabat.
The Rabat Court of Appeal confirmed the original rulings, sentencing nine of the defendants to one year in prison and the remaining nine to between three and six months. All 18 were also fined amounts ranging from €90 to €460.
The men, who have been in custody since the February final, faced charges of hooliganism, violence against police, and damage to sports equipment. They denied the accusations, arguing they entered the pitch to escape dangerous crowd surges and projectiles thrown from the stands.
Defence lawyer Patrick Kabou told the court that the prosecution failed to present material evidence to substantiate its claims. “The prosecution could not provide any evidence of these accusations,” he said.
Prosecutors had sought harsher penalties but the court opted to maintain the initial sentences. The ruling brings a conclusion to one of the most controversial incidents of the tournament, which drew widespread attention to crowd safety and security at major African football events.
The case has sparked debate over the treatment of visiting fans and the handling of disorder at high-profile matches, with some observers questioning the proportionality of the sentences given the lack of direct evidence linking the accused to acts of violence or vandalism.
