Senegal's prime minister slams sentencing of fans for AFCON pitch invasion

Senegal fans react in the stand after Morocco were awarded a penalty following a VAR review during the AFCON final
Senegal fans react in the stand after Morocco were awarded a penalty following a VAR review during the AFCON finalReuters / Strin

Senegal's prime minister on Tuesday bewailed a Moroccan court's prison sentence against 18 Senegalese football supporters convicted over a pitch invasion during the AFCON final last month.

The supporters were detained in Morocco after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on January 18th, accused of violence against security forces and of causing damage.

On Thursday, a court handed them sentences ranging from three months to one year in jail and fines worth up to $545.

"It seems this matter goes beyond the realm of sport, and that is regrettable," Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko told parliament.

"For two countries that call each other friends, like Morocco and Senegal, things should not have gone this far."

He said Morocco's handling of the case "does not honour" relations between the two countries, adding that Senegal had done "all it should" to secure their release.

Sonko said that Senegal could, if necessary, activate a bilateral agreement allowing the mutual transfer of convicts.

Senegal won the final 1-0 in Rabat after a chaotic match in which Senegalese supporters tried to storm the pitch and threw projectiles.

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