The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed appreciation for the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters. These individuals had been convicted following incidents that took place during the Africa Cup of Nations final on January 18, 2026, in Rabat. King Mohammed VI of Morocco has pardoned the 15 supporters who were still in detention, allowing them the freedom to move about once again.
Patrice Motsepe, representing the CAF member associations, conveyed gratitude to King Mohammed VI for this gesture. “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,” he stated.
Motsepe emphasizes CAF’s commitment to using football as a means of promoting unity among diverse racial, ethnic, and religious groups. He highlighted that the royal pardon serves as an inspiring example of football’s ability to bridge divides and foster closer ties among people, both within Africa and globally. The CAF president also shared his admiration for the historical connections between Senegal and Morocco during his recent visits to both nations.