Fans also handed fines but their lawyers have said the sentences are excessive and vowed to appeal
A court in Morocco has sentenced 19 fans to up to a year in prison in a case connected with the disruptions caused during the Africa Cup of Nations final in January.
The fans comprised 18 Senegalese nationals and one French national. They were found guilty of agressive behaviour that led to the destruction of property and endangering the wellbeing of spectators, including damaging sporting facilities and committing violence during a sporting event.
The incident in question occurred after Morocco were awarded a controversial penalty in the Afcon final and a furious Senegal coach Pape Thiaw instructed his players to leave the pitch. Play was paused for nearly 15 minutes and fights broke out across the stadium, with the final of Africa’s biggest footballing event coming close to cancellation.
CAF ExCo member Samir Sobha has apologized to Morocco 🇲🇦 for the “injustice done to the national team” during the AFCON final.
“I want to plead with the Moroccan FA to forgive us for the injustice done to them … The rules have not been respected, as they should have been in… pic.twitter.com/24knf6Mq9Q
— Eric Njiru ⚽️ (@EricNjiiru) February 18, 2026
Thiaw was punished by the Confederation of African Football last month with a a five-match ban and a £72,000 fine for “unsporting conduct” and “bringing the game into disrepute”. It was one among a number of fines handed out after the events of that final, all summing up to a figure in the region of £1m.
The 19 fans brought before the court in Morocco were arrested during the final and held in custody for a month awaiting trial. Eleven of the persons were sentenced to one year in prison, with a fine of £405. Four were sentenced to six months with a fine of £160. The other four were sentenced to three months and a £97 fine.
However, their lawyers have said the sentences are excessive and vowed to appeal the decision.
