The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed gratitude for the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters. These individuals were convicted following incidents during the Africa Cup of Nations final held on January 18, 2026, in Rabat. King Mohammed VI of Morocco has pardoned the 15 supporters who were still in detention, allowing them to be free.
Patrice Motsepe, the CAF President, conveyed his appreciation to King Mohammed VI for this gesture. In a statement, he said, “On behalf of the CAF Member Associations representing 54 African countries, I wish to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting his Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences related to the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.”
Motsepe emphasized that CAF is committed to using football as a means to promote unity among diverse racial, ethnic, and religious groups. He noted that the pardon serves as a powerful illustration of football’s ability to unite people. “I was impressed and filled with admiration when I was shown the deep-rooted historical ties between the peoples of Senegal and Morocco during my visit to both countries a few weeks ago,” he added.