The chaos that engulfed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco on Sunday, January 18, 2026, extended beyond the pitch, spilling into the stands and culminating in multiple arrests at the stadium in Rabat.
As tensions boiled over following the stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco, a decision that briefly saw Senegal’s players leave the field in protest, disorder also erupted among sections of the crowd.
Senegalese supporters, angered by events unfolding on the pitch, reportedly clashed with stadium stewards in scenes that further darkened an already volatile final.
According to reports from MauritanieFoot, fans hurled plastic chairs, struck stewards, and attempted to breach security barriers in an effort to force their way onto the pitch.
Morocco’s Saibari apologises to Edouard Mendy after trying to ‘steal’ his towel
The situation required swift intervention from security personnel to prevent a wider breakdown of order inside the stadium.
Moroccan authorities later confirmed that 18 Senegalese supporters and one Algerian national were taken into police custody on charges described as hooliganism.
An official investigation has since been opened to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incidents and identify those responsible.
While the match eventually resumed and Senegal went on to secure victory in extra time, the disorder in the stands underscored the combustible atmosphere that defined the night.
Disciplinary proceedings are also underway at multiple levels.
FKA/JE
Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians celebrate Senegal’s AFCON triumph
