By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko on Tuesday denounced prison sentence against 18 Senegalese football supporters convicted by a Moroccan court, over a pitch invasion during African Cup of Nations final last month.
The supporters, mostly Senegalese nationals were detained in Morocco after the AFCON final on January 18, following accusation of violence against security forces and of causing damage.
On Thursday, a court handed them sentences ranging from three months to one year in jail and fines worth up to $545.
“It seems this matter goes beyond the realm of sport, and that is regrettable,” Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko told parliament.
“For two countries that call each other friends, like Morocco and Senegal, things should not have gone this far.”
He said Morocco’s handling of the case “does not honour” relations between the two countries, adding that Senegal had done “all it should” to secure their release.
Sonko said that Senegal could, if necessary, activate a bilateral agreement allowing the mutual transfer of convicts.
Senegal won the CAN final 1–0 in Rabat after a chaotic match in which Senegalese supporters tried to storm the pitch and threw projectiles.
