NEWS & POLITICS
8 Senegalese fans detained after AFCON final begin hunger strike in Morocco
Eighteen Senegalese football fans detained in Morocco after last month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final have begun a hunger strike while awaiting trial. Their lawyer confirmed the protest, raising concerns over prolonged pre-trial detention following the tense continental showdown.
Michael Oduor
RABAT, Morocco | February 8 (Running Africa) — The supporters were arrested on January 18, the night Senegal defeated host Morocco 1–0 in the AFCON final. Authorities charged them with hooliganism and property destruction after stadium clashes between fans and police.
Hunger Protest Over Prolonged Detention
According to defense lawyer Patrick Kabou, the detainees have started intermittent, or selective, fasting. They are protesting what they say is an extended pre-trial detention period. They also want to press for a formal court hearing within the Moroccan justice system.
Kaboou said his clients wrote to him last week, indicating they were restricting their meals to breakfast only as a form of protest.
A source familiar with the case, speaking on condition of anonymity, said prison officials notified prosecutors that seven detainees skipped lunch on Friday and attempted to buy food outside the facility, though they later ate dinner.
Legal proceedings are ongoing, with the next court appearance scheduled for February 12. Senegalese authorities say they are closely monitoring developments. While Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko visited Morocco last month, the matter was not publicly addressed during his trip.
Disorder at the AFCON Final
Image: reuters.com
The arrests followed a tense, emotionally charged AFCON final, during which Senegalese supporters invaded the pitch to protest what they described as unfair refereeing decisions.
As emotions spilled over, confrontations erupted between fans and Moroccan police in front of tens of thousands of spectators. Multiple arrests occurred on the night. Eighteen Senegalese nationals now face prosecution.
CAF Disciplinary Measures
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, image: cafonline.com
In the aftermath, the Confederation of African Football imposed disciplinary sanctions on both nations. Senegal was fined $615,000. Head coach Pape Thiaw received a $100,000 fine and a five-match suspension.
The Moroccan Football Federation was also fined $315,000. It has since appealed, arguing the sanction was disproportionate.
As the legal process unfolds, the hunger protest adds a new layer of diplomatic and human-rights scrutiny to the fallout from one of the most contentious AFCON finals in recent history. This underscores how football, law, and politics continue to collide on Africa’s biggest sporting stage.
