Ibrahima Diop, Aziz Wade, and Abdoulaye Diagne have reflected on their harrowing experience while imprisoned in Morocco, describing it as one of the most challenging periods of their lives. Their detention followed the incidents during the Africa Cup of Nations final on January 18, 2026, where Senegal faced Morocco. Of the 18 supporters detained, three were released last Saturday after serving a three-month sentence. Upon returning to Senegal, they recounted their experiences in Rabat.
Abdoulaye Diagne emphasized the significant role of the language barrier in escalating tensions, stating that communication difficulties between Moroccan police and Senegalese supporters contributed to the incidents. He noted that while the police largely understood Arabic, only a few spoke French, leading to misunderstandings.
The Moroccan police officers essentially only understood Arabic; very few of them spoke French. On our side, some spoke only Wolof. I am convinced that most of the incidents stemmed from this language barrier. The steward used a chair to attack a supporter. It was this action that sparked the clashes.
Aziz Wade recounted the shock of their arrest and the anxiety regarding the implications for their families. He described the moment they were informed of their detention as particularly distressing.
It was very trying. The moment we were told we were under arrest was the hardest. Our thoughts immediately turned to our families.
Ibrahima Diop discussed the psychological toll of their imprisonment, which was marked by deep moments of self-doubt and reflection on their families and the cultural ties between Senegal and Morocco.
We went through moments of extreme difficulty, to the point where we sometimes wavered internally. We are human beings. I thought a lot about my family and the spiritual bond between Senegal and Morocco. I cried over it.