Morocco releases Senegal fans jailed over AFCON final disorder

Morocco has released three Senegalese football supporters who had been jailed over violence linked to the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, after they completed three-month sentences.The releases come as African football’s governance remains under scrutiny following the contested end to the final, with organisers, host authorities and federations facing ongoing reputational pressure.A Moroccan court in February sentenced 18 Senegalese supporters to prison terms ranging from three to 12 months on hooliganism charges, according to reporting from the case.The three supporters left Al Arjat 2 prison northeast of Rabat on April 18 and were later met by representatives of the Senegalese embassy after completing local police procedures.The wider group has argued they were swept onto the pitch by crowd surges or were seeking safety from projectiles, rather than protesting a refereeing decision in the closing stages.One defence lawyer, Patrick Kabou, said: “There have been mistakes; the people involved in what happened are currently in Senegal and are not present here.”Prosecutors had sought tougher penalties on appeal, but the initial sentences were upheld, keeping the legal outcome aligned with the first-instance judgment.Operationally, the episode has become a case study in matchday security, crowd management and evidentiary standards at high-risk fixtures, particularly when pitch incursions occur in live broadcast environments.A prosecution argument cited in the appeal hearings underlined the visibility risk for hosts and rights holders, saying: “The entire world saw these terrible images live.”The disorder also sits alongside a broader dispute over the final’s sporting outcome, which has become entangled in administrative appeals and threatens to linger as a narrative around credibility and process.The Confederation of African Football has already faced criticism over how it has managed the post-match legal and disciplinary pathway, with Senegal’s football federation pursuing further appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.The releases bring a measure of closure for the three supporters involved, but the wider governance and operational questions raised by the final remain live as African football seeks to protect confidence among broadcasters, partners and future host markets.