African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[Mr Reporter]

Moroccan court sentences 19 fans to jail for AFCON hooliganism

Eleven people were sentenced to one year in prison and handed a $550 fine. Four were sentenced to six months and given a $218 fine. The remaining four were sentenced to three months and a $130 fine, lawyer Naima El Guellaf told The Associated Press.

https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/47978937/moroccan-court-sentences-19-fans-jail-afcon-hooliganism

I am surprised that CAF and FIFA couldn't resolve this issue through diplomacy and dialogue. These fans who went to Morocco to support their country will be sent to prison and come out as ex-cons. This is just too hard to believe. It is normal for fans to have altercations with rival fans and security agencies but sending them to jail is going to the extreme. This would have been settled without court convictions.

Before this statement comes out, I believe it has passed through so many factors to be considered by both the CAF and FIFA, therefore, for both FIFA and CAF to agree with this and sentence them to prison means their offense is intense because football is known as a game if fun, so no violence is welcomed in football, and some fans are very toxic especially when their countries didn’t win and the game of football is all about win or lose; and I can see how some Morocco fans reacted when their team got defeated in the final; they forgot they favor referees, but when they lose in the final, their fans are now reacting and most of them deserve to be punished.

The thing is that I was even supporting the CAF and FIFA for there action the other time well all because I was not having a bigger picture of what the fans might have really this news was something I haves some what did the CAF or FIFA did is way out of hands and having to jail fans that came to support, even no what happened but they should still couldn’t not do such things.

[SatoPrincess]

~snip~

Do you know that country like Nigeria and Ghana are supposed to perform better during the AFCON tournament and the world cup qualifier but could not because of bad leadership.

What do you mean by “bad leadership” in this context? Are you referring to the club management or something else? I don’t know about Ghana but the Super Eagles played poorly in the World Cup qualifiers and that’s why we were knocked out.

If African powerhouses like Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, and Tunisia failed to make it to the semi-finals, I would celebrate the Super Eagles for winning the bronze. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.

There is nothing a power house when discussing about football. Do not be surprised that the worse club or team can beat the strongest when it comes to football which had made some matches to be hardly predictable.

While it’s very much possible for an underdog team to win a stronger team in football, that doesn’t disqualify the advantage/effect of teams with richer football heritage or like you say “powerhouses”.

Moroccan court sentences 19 fans to jail for AFCON hooliganism

Eleven people were sentenced to one year in prison and handed a $550 fine. Four were sentenced to six months and given a $218 fine. The remaining four were sentenced to three months and a $130 fine, lawyer Naima El Guellaf told The Associated Press.

https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/47978937/moroccan-court-sentences-19-fans-jail-afcon-hooliganism

I am surprised that CAF and FIFA couldn't resolve this issue through diplomacy and dialogue. These fans who went to Morocco to support their country will be sent to prison and come out as ex-cons. This is just too hard to believe. It is normal for fans to have altercations with rival fans and security agencies but sending them to jail is going to the extreme. This would have been settled without court convictions.

I’m not so concerned about CAF and FIFA at this point. Isn’t the Senegalese government supposed to do something about this? You can’t just let your countrymen to go to prison in another country especially when you know that it’s unjust. I mean where are the Moroccans who were also involved in the crowd violence?

[Barikui1]

Moroccan court sentences 19 fans to jail for AFCON hooliganism

Eleven people were sentenced to one year in prison and handed a $550 fine. Four were sentenced to six months and given a $218 fine. The remaining four were sentenced to three months and a $130 fine, lawyer Naima El Guellaf told The Associated Press.

https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/47978937/moroccan-court-sentences-19-fans-jail-afcon-hooliganism

I am surprised that CAF and FIFA couldn't resolve this issue through diplomacy and dialogue. These fans who went to Morocco to support their country will be sent to prison and come out as ex-cons. This is just too hard to believe. It is normal for fans to have altercations with rival fans and security agencies but sending them to jail is going to the extreme. This would have been settled without court convictions.

I am equally as disappointed as you bro, this is one of those things that are very popular in football, because football fan will always clash with themselves or with security agencies due to the emotions involve in it, so I wonder why the incident that happens in Morocco different. I heard that the Senegalese football fa are looking into it and how they can resolve the matter diplomatically, but as for now, their is no positive news on that. I just hope that these guys  are freed at the end because it's going to past a negative and a bitter feelings towards Morocco across Africa

[Kelward]

Moroccan court sentences 19 fans to jail for AFCON hooliganism

Eleven people were sentenced to one year in prison and handed a $550 fine. Four were sentenced to six months and given a $218 fine. The remaining four were sentenced to three months and a $130 fine, lawyer Naima El Guellaf told The Associated Press.

https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/47978937/moroccan-court-sentences-19-fans-jail-afcon-hooliganism

I am surprised that CAF and FIFA couldn't resolve this issue through diplomacy and dialogue. These fans who went to Morocco to support their country will be sent to prison and come out as ex-cons. This is just too hard to believe. It is normal for fans to have altercations with rival fans and security agencies but sending them to jail is going to the extreme. This would have been settled without court convictions.

I am equally as disappointed as you bro, this is one of those things that are very popular in football, because football fan will always clash with themselves or with security agencies due to the emotions involve in it, so I wonder why the incident that happens in Morocco different. I heard that the Senegalese football fa are looking into it and how they can resolve the matter diplomatically, but as for now, their is no positive news on that. I just hope that these guys  are freed at the end because it's going to past a negative and a bitter feelings towards Morocco across Africa

I don't mind that unruly fans were punished depending on their unruly behavior so it will sand message to fans of teams in a major tournament to behave themselves because they know the consequences if they don't. But I don't know degree of offence that can warrent fans being sent to jail, except it's very severe they should have been fined or banned from entering a stadium to watch games for specified period of time. Since it is an international tournament and CAF and FIFA allowed the jail sentences I think maybe it meets their standard of discipline.

[Wakate]

I am equally as disappointed as you bro, this is one of those things that are very popular in football, because football fan will always clash with themselves or with security agencies due to the emotions involve in it, so I wonder why the incident that happens in Morocco different. I heard that the Senegalese football fa are looking into it and how they can resolve the matter diplomatically, but as for now, their is no positive news on that. I just hope that these guys  are freed at the end because it's going to past a negative and a bitter feelings towards Morocco across Africa

The differences will be resolved and their of the Senegalese protesters that was arrested would be released if they had not been released. Africans should stand as one and there should not be any differences from country to country and that is what is gonna help Africa to stay as one without any racism. Football is meant to bring peace ans unity with the African continent and not to cause problem within two strong countries.

[Lida93]

Moroccan court sentences 19 fans to jail for AFCON hooliganism

Eleven people were sentenced to one year in prison and handed a $550 fine. Four were sentenced to six months and given a $218 fine. The remaining four were sentenced to three months and a $130 fine, lawyer Naima El Guellaf told The Associated Press.

https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/47978937/moroccan-court-sentences-19-fans-jail-afcon-hooliganism

I am surprised that CAF and FIFA couldn't resolve this issue through diplomacy and dialogue. These fans who went to Morocco to support their country will be sent to prison and come out as ex-cons. This is just too hard to believe. It is normal for fans to have altercations with rival fans and security agencies but sending them to jail is going to the extreme. This would have been settled without court convictions.

Let not immediately bring FIFA into this but let ask what the CAF body is doing since it's the body in charge of football tournaments in Africa, like the AFCON. CAF is just a total letdown that they can't call Morocco government through it's country football body to order and make for an end to this disgrace they're setting for African football. It was a fight which led to destruction of the facilities properties, so what happens to the both parties involved in the fight that got some properties in the facilities destroyed ? Because from all indications it's only the opponent fans countries are being punished.

[Mr Reporter]

I am equally as disappointed as you bro, this is one of those things that are very popular in football, because football fan will always clash with themselves or with security agencies due to the emotions involve in it, so I wonder why the incident that happens in Morocco different. I heard that the Senegalese football fa are looking into it and how they can resolve the matter diplomatically, but as for now, their is no positive news on that. I just hope that these guys  are freed at the end because it's going to past a negative and a bitter feelings towards Morocco across Africa

The differences will be resolved and their of the Senegalese protesters that was arrested would be released if they had not been released. Africans should stand as one and there should not be any differences from country to country and that is what is gonna help Africa to stay as one without any racism. Football is meant to bring peace ans unity with the African continent and not to cause problem within two strong countries.

Well this is showing that the African country has went Thier apart could this be? I feel they need to just figure out their difference between the both of them right now I feel Morocco might be feeling cheated at the end of the day, now why is racism the matter of the decision here was there any need bring it up here I asked..now I get your point I think having think of each sink colour should not even bring any misunderstanding here just as you have said else that foot should been peace which is very correct at some point there is no need to been having misunderstanding it just a game....

[Mayor of ogba]

I’m not so concerned about CAF and FIFA at this point. Isn’t the Senegalese government supposed to do something about this? You can’t just let your countrymen to go to prison in another country especially when you know that it’s unjust. I mean where are the Moroccans who were also involved in the crowd violence?

There's nothing the Senegalese government could do to save her subjects from facing the law in Morocco because they broke a law which triggered Morocco government to charge them to court, and they were sentence to prison after they were found guilty. Since the sentence of the Senegal fans has fine, the only way the Senegalese government could do something is for them to pay for the fines so that those Senegal fans will return back to Senegal and be their loved ones.

[EL MOHA]

There's nothing the Senegalese government could do to save her subjects from facing the law in Morocco because they broke a law which triggered Morocco government to charge them to court, and they were sentence to prison after they were found guilty. Since the sentence of the Senegal fans has fine, the only way the Senegalese government could do something is for them to pay for the fines so that those Senegal fans will return back to Senegal and be their loved ones.

This is one of the standing rules of every tournament participants. Outside the pitch if you break laws governing the country and you were actually arrested then you will be punished base on the country law. Morocco isn’t the first host punishing its visitors with their own laws we saw even Qatar actually adopting same laws in the last World Cup where some Europeans were actually even complained about it. With countries like Germany having faced similar issues too then.

But the bone of contention in this is that this particular crisis was actually instigated and most of the instigator were the home fans as such I haven’t read about them getting punished or anything similar to what the Senegalese fans faced and I think this is fairness that the CAF needs to chase

[Marykeller]

Moroccan court sentences 19 fans to jail for AFCON hooliganism

Eleven people were sentenced to one year in prison and handed a $550 fine. Four were sentenced to six months and given a $218 fine. The remaining four were sentenced to three months and a $130 fine, lawyer Naima El Guellaf told The Associated Press.

https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/47978937/moroccan-court-sentences-19-fans-jail-afcon-hooliganism

I am surprised that CAF and FIFA couldn't resolve this issue through diplomacy and dialogue. These fans who went to Morocco to support their country will be sent to prison and come out as ex-cons. This is just too hard to believe. It is normal for fans to have altercations with rival fans and security agencies but sending them to jail is going to the extreme. This would have been settled without court convictions.

Before this statement comes out, I believe it has passed through so many factors to be considered by both the CAF and FIFA, therefore, for both FIFA and CAF to agree with this and sentence them to prison means their offense is intense because football is known as a game if fun, so no violence is welcomed in football, and some fans are very toxic especially when their countries didn’t win and the game of football is all about win or lose; and I can see how some Morocco fans reacted when their team got defeated in the final; they forgot they favor referees, but when they lose in the final, their fans are now reacting and most of them deserve to be punished.

The thing is that I was even supporting the CAF and FIFA for there action the other time well all because I was not having a bigger picture of what the fans might have really this news was something I haves some what did the CAF or FIFA did is way out of hands and having to jail fans that came to support, even no what happened but they should still couldn’t not do such things.

What CAF and FIFA did was never out of hand, you know why? If they begin to condone the wayward acts of fans, it could lead to something more serious in the future, such as violence or even murder. Then, it would be hard to control. Fans would begin to feel that it is right for them to showcase their grievances in football matches. Take for instance, in Nigeria, look at the way the fans of our local league behave each time the club they are in support of, loses. Don't you think that, when a year or months imprisonment is given to those guilty of violence on the pitch, the violence would continue? No way.

CAF and FIFA know what they did. They don't want further recurrence of this, in the near future. Let them use these 19 Morocco fans to set an example

[Zigabel]

I am equally as disappointed as you bro, this is one of those things that are very popular in football, because football fan will always clash with themselves or with security agencies due to the emotions involve in it, so I wonder why the incident that happens in Morocco different. I heard that the Senegalese football fa are looking into it and how they can resolve the matter diplomatically, but as for now, their is no positive news on that. I just hope that these guys  are freed at the end because it's going to past a negative and a bitter feelings towards Morocco across Africa

It is sad that we are this backwards in conflict resolution, this case is such that ordinarily should not get beyond CAF but they  allowed it escalate to this point which is going to be a bad precedence for African football, this may make some fans decide never to be involved in football again and even the affected country will have some prejudice for Morocco.  The Moroccan government has a part to play in this, since they got involved, they could diplomatically approach the issue and probably get it out of court and get I resolved but they allowed it get to this point which will dent their national diplomatic ties with others.

[letteredhub]

Do you know that country like Nigeria and Ghana are supposed to perform better during the AFCON tournament and the world cup qualifier but could not because of bad leadership.

What do you mean by “bad leadership” in this context? Are you referring to the club management or something else? I don’t know about Ghana but the Super Eagles played poorly in the World Cup qualifiers and that’s why we were knocked out.

It could be that the guy is referring to the bad choice of coaches that were firstly introduced to the national team which actually was the beginning of the downfall for Nigeria not securing points that should have made them successfully qualified for the World Cup. You remember Fini George, yea, his leadership of the Super Eagles team was very bad, and all that added to the rest bad games even after him.

If African powerhouses like Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, and Tunisia failed to make it to the semi-finals, I would celebrate the Super Eagles for winning the bronze. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.

There is nothing a power house when discussing about football. Do not be surprised that the worse club or team can beat the strongest when it comes to football which had made some matches to be hardly predictable.

While it’s very much possible for an underdog team to win a stronger team in football, that doesn’t disqualify the advantage/effect of teams with richer football heritage or like you say “powerhouses”.

Yeah, technically there are teams in any tournament that are viewed as the elite sides in the tournament and are tip to be favourite to win the tournament before it begins. Nevertheless, these teams ain't invincible that they can't be beaten by the less ranked teams, that's just the beauty of football. The best teams still loses.

[Stepstowealth]

Let them use these 19 Morocco fans to set an example

It is obvious you did not read the story, because if you did, you will know that the 19 people are foreign nationals and not Moroccans. It was 18 Senegalese and one french national.

I find that a bit somehow because why is it only foreigners and not even one Moroccan involved. There is  a bias to me and the affected party should seek an appeal on the verdict. Or don't you find it strange?

[Mr Reporter]

What CAF and FIFA did was never out of hand, you know why? If they begin to condone the wayward acts of fans, it could lead to something more serious in the future, such as violence or even murder. Then, it would be hard to control. Fans would begin to feel that it is right for them to showcase their grievances in football matches. Take for instance, in Nigeria, look at the way the fans of our local league behave each time the club they are in support of, loses. Don't you think that, when a year or months imprisonment is given to those guilty of violence on the pitch, the violence would continue? No way.

CAF and FIFA know what they did. They don't want further recurrence of this, in the near future. Let them use these 19 Morocco fans to set an example

Who told you it was out of hands? I feel it some Little issues the CAF and FIFA should handle, I feel violence should not even be part of the football game…but just feel the fans just want to use it as an opportunity to for their lose of the game…or they where trying to say sometime in one ways or the other I think, I was so unhappy to see such kind of moment in football game…now I think the FIFI and the CAF should just really lead by example, so that others can follow them, well I don’t even think the 3 years is still that effective to the Moroccan guys, well I feel they should just over look that issue and move on..