In a significant ruling, the Rabat Appeals Court in Morocco confirmed on the evening of April 13, 2026, the initial sentences imposed on 18 Senegalese fans, who faced legal action due to disturbances during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final. Among these fans, nine were sentenced to one year in prison, while six received six-month sentences. The remaining three fans, having been sentenced to three months, are expected to return to their home country shortly as they have nearly completed their sentence, according to reports from RFI.
The courtroom was charged with palpable emotions as a man in the audience raised his fist in solidarity with the Senegalese fans, who were seated in a designated area reserved for defendants. Conversations in Wolof echoed through the partition that divided the courtroom, obscuring the incarcerated individuals from full view. The court then summoned each fan individually to the witness stand to verify their identities, with the sound of handcuffs being clicked on and off punctuating the proceedings both before and after each call.
The legal proceedings unfolded with the defense, the prosecution, and the lawyers for the civil parties taking turns to present their arguments. The marathon session stretched over nine hours, filled with rapid-fire pleas and motions. The defense highlighted procedural errors and insisted on the need to hear from a representative of the CAF (Confederation of African Football) during the trial. Ultimately, the court decided to reserve its judgment on these matters until the final verdict was announced.
Following a prolonged deliberation period, the court once again called the Senegalese defendants to individually recount their versions of the events. Each denied any involvement in the riots, with several claiming they had rushed onto the pitch at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium to escape a mass panic that had erupted among the spectators. Shortly after 10 PM, the Rabat Appeals Court retreated to deliberate, returning an hour later to deliver its decision: the sentences remained unchanged from the initial ruling.
As reported by africa-live.de.
