Trial of Senegalese Nationals After AFCON Final Met Fair Trial Standards - Human Rights Group

Trial of Senegalese Nationals After AFCON Final Met Fair Trial Standards - Human Rights Group 

By Niyi Busari 

The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights (OMDH) has said that the trial of Senegalese nationals charged following incidents during the final of the Africa Cup of Nations complied with universal and constitutional standards for a fair trial, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In a report released on Thursday, the rights group said fundamental legal safeguards were respected throughout the proceedings. It highlighted the conduct of the court, noting that the judicial panel maintained its independence and impartiality while ensuring balanced treatment of both the defence and the prosecution.

According to the OMDH, the court upheld the presumption of innocence and allowed the defendants to respond freely to questions during the hearings. The accused were also given sufficient time during the investigation phase to present their account of events.

The report said defence lawyers were granted adequate time to present their arguments without interruption on behalf of the defendants and civil parties. The defence was also allowed to exercise its right of reply whenever requested.

The organisation further noted that the hearings were conducted in accordance with the principle of open justice. Court sessions were accessible to the public, with unrestricted entry from the courthouse’s main entrance to the hearing room.

Several adjournments recorded in the case were granted at the request of the defendants, the report said. These delays were intended to allow the accused to secure legal representation, ensure the presence of defence lawyers and provide additional time for attorneys to prepare and deliver their pleadings.

The OMDH also pointed to what it described as the court’s responsiveness to requests from the parties involved. In one instance, the court granted a defence request allowing the defendants to remain seated during the hearing, noting that prolonged standing could cause fatigue. The session on 19 February 2026 coincided with the first day of Ramadan.

The report also referred to an incident during a hearing on 5 February 2026, when one of the defendants showed signs of illness. The presiding judge ordered the immediate intervention of the court clinic’s physician, who treated the individual before transferring him to the infirmary using a medical chair. The defence at that session was represented by lawyer Patrick Kabou.

According to the report, the defendants arrived at the hearings in detention under security escort, in line with standard procedures, but their handcuffs were removed before the proceedings began and before the judicial panel entered the courtroom.

Most of the defendants denied the charges against them, the OMDH said. Some stated that they had entered the pitch to urge fellow supporters to return to the stands, while others said they were attempting to retrieve personal belongings that had fallen onto the field.

Others claimed they had been pushed by the crowd and had accidentally fallen onto the pitch. A small number of defendants expressed regret over the incidents and offered apologies, while some also emphasised the friendly relations between their country and Morocco.