On May 24, 2026, Patrice Motsepe, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), extended his heartfelt thanks to King Mohammed VI of Morocco following the royal decision to pardon Senegalese fans who had been imprisoned for four months after the final match between the two nations in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
CAF's Official Statement on the Royal Pardon
In a statement released on CAF's official website, Motsepe expressed profound gratitude toward King Mohammed VI for the royal amnesty granted to Senegalese supporters convicted of offenses related to the AFCON 2025 final. He articulated, "On behalf of the member associations of CAF, representing 54 African countries, I would like to express our deep appreciation to His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, for the generous royal pardon extended to the Senegalese fans convicted due to incidents during the AFCON final."
Motsepe further emphasized CAF's ongoing commitment to utilizing football as a means of unifying people from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. He noted that the actions of King Mohammed VI serve as an inspiring example of the power of football to bring communities together, both in Africa and around the world. During his recent visit to both countries, he was particularly impressed by the deep-rooted historical ties between the Senegalese and Moroccan peoples.
In concluding his remarks, Motsepe conveyed his best wishes for the success of the national teams of Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup, expressing his confidence in their ability to represent the African continent with honor.
Warm Reception Awaiting Senegalese Fans
On the morning of the same day, the Senegalese fans who had been incarcerated following the disturbances during the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat last January returned to Blaise Diagne Airport in Diamniadio, near Dakar, where they were welcomed by President Macky Sall and members of the Senegalese Football Federation.
A statement from the Moroccan royal palace on Saturday highlighted that, due to the longstanding fraternal ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Senegal, and in celebration of the upcoming Eid al-Adha, King Mohammed VI graciously decided to extend his royal pardon to the Senegalese fans who had been sentenced for offenses committed during the Africa Cup competitions. During the final match on January 18, Senegal triumphed with a score of 1-0 amidst chaotic scenes.
Following a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time of the second half, shortly after a goal by Senegal was disallowed, several Senegalese players left the pitch, while fans attempted to breach the stadium's security. In February, Moroccan authorities issued prison sentences ranging from three months to one year for 18 Senegalese fans charged with "stadium riots," who had been detained since the match. By mid-April, three fans were released after serving their three-month sentences, and the recent pardon included the remaining fifteen fans.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
