Eighteen Senegalese football supporters convicted over a pitch invasion during the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final 2026 in Rabat have denied wrongdoing as a Moroccan court upheld their prison sentences.
The fans were initially sentenced in February to between three and 12 months in prison after being found guilty of hooliganism following the disorder at the end of the final in January.
On appeal, prosecutors pushed for harsher penalties, but the court on Monday confirmed the original sentences.
The supporters argued that they did not intentionally invade the pitch in protest, claiming they were either pushed onto the field by a surging crowd or were trying to avoid being attacked by objects thrown from the stands.
They maintained that the incident was not connected to the controversial end of the match, which Senegal won 1–0.
Defence lawyers also requested that video footage of the incident be replayed in court to verify the identities of those convicted, but the prosecution rejected the request, insisting the individuals were caught in the act.
The court has yet to rule on whether the video evidence will be reviewed.
Meanwhile, lawyers representing the accused say there were mistakes in the identification process and insist some of those responsible for the incident are not among the 18 defendants currently on trial.
