Four Senegalese and One French Fan Released from Moroccan Prisons After AFCON Final Incidents

Moroccan authorities announced the release of four football fans from Al Arjat 2 prison on Saturday, April 17, 2026, after they completed three-month prison sentences. The group released from prison walls included three Senegalese nationals and one French fan. Their arrests followed their involvement in acts of violence witnessed in the capital Rabat during the Africa Cup of Nations final match.

The details of the case date back to January 18, 2026, when riots erupted following controversial refereeing decisions, including a penalty awarded to Morocco and a disallowed goal for Senegal. The Senegalese fans were charged with sports hooliganism, assaulting security personnel, and damaging sports facilities, while the French fan was convicted of throwing a water bottle onto the pitch during the highly tense final match of the tournament.

Meanwhile, 15 additional Senegalese fans remain in prison, serving sentences ranging from six months to a full year after an appeals court upheld these convictions earlier. These legal proceedings coincide with legal actions from the Senegalese side, which has decided to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in protest against the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decisions that followed the withdrawal of Senegalese players from the field, and the subsequent awarding of the 2025 tournament hosting rights to Morocco.