Senegal Coach Urges Solidarity: Fans in Morocco Need Our Prayers After AFCON Final Turmoil
28 March 2026
The AFCON final was marred by crowd trouble and clashes.
Pabi Thiaw, Senegal's head coach, addressed the crisis surrounding detained Senegalese fans in Morocco who have been charged in connection with the incident after the AFCON 2025 final.
In the post-match press conference following Senegal's 2-0 victory over Peru in a friendly on Saturday, Thiaw said: 'Since their stay there, I pray for them every day... we are with them with all our hearts, and we will never abandon them, and we will fight to reunite them with their families.'
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Additionally, Rabat's court handed varied prison terms to 18 Senegalese supporters after the match amid tensions and controversial officiating. The CAF later announced the withdrawal of the title from Senegal and its allocation to Morocco, with the Senegalese federation filing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is expected to decide.
As the case unfolds, the federation stresses support for those fans and hopes for their speedy reunification with their families. They will continue to stand with the supporters, both on and off the pitch.
Punchline 1: If fans can travel halfway across Africa for a game, my WiFi can travel halfway across the house to load this page.
Punchline 2: In football, as in life, the drama never ends—at least the snacks stay consistent.
