A group of Senegalese football supporters jailed after violence during a disputed Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco have returned home following a royal pardon issued by King Mohammed VI.
The supporters arrived at Blaise Diagne International Airport outside Dakar shortly after 01:00 local time on Sunday, where they were welcomed by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The pardon, granted on humanitarian grounds, was announced by Morocco’s royal court and coincided with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. It applied to 15 fans who were still serving prison sentences ranging from six months to one year.
Faye expressed relief at their release and thanked Moroccan authorities for the decision, describing the supporters as “very happy to be back on Senegalese soil”.
The Senegalese leader also praised King Mohammed VI, calling the decision a gesture of clemency and humanity, while reiterating that the fans would be reunited with their families.
The case stems from a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat in January, where tensions escalated during a highly controversial match between Senegal and Morocco.
The final was marked by disputed refereeing decisions, including a stoppage time penalty incident that triggered unrest among supporters. Senegal fans attempted to breach the pitch and threw objects, leading to the match being suspended for nearly 20 minutes.
Although Senegal initially celebrated a dramatic 94th minute winner, the result later became the subject of an appeal process before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In February, Moroccan courts sentenced 18 Senegalese supporters for hooliganism after reviewing stadium footage and medical reports related to injured security personnel. Three had already completed their sentences and were released earlier in April.
The incident strained diplomatic and sporting relations between the two countries, which have long maintained close ties in trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
Senegal’s president has also continued to describe his national team as “two time African champions”, despite the ongoing legal dispute over the final result.
Football authorities, including the Confederation of African Football, have already imposed disciplinary measures on both federations following the unrest, while the broader case remains under review in international arbitration.
The supporters’ return brings closure to one of the most controversial chapters in recent African football history, though the fallout from the final continues to linger across both nations.
