Eighteen Senegalese football supporters detained in Morocco after the Africa Cup of Nations final have begun refusing food, escalating a standoff that has drawn attention to how fans were treated after the tournament.
The supporters were arrested following clashes after Senegal’s AFCON final match in Morocco. Authorities accused them of public disorder and damage to property, leading to their detention. Since then, court hearings have been delayed, keeping the group in custody weeks after the final whistle.
Reports say the detainees started refusing meals in protest against what they describe as prolonged detention and slow judicial processes. Some outlets initially described the action as a hunger strike, while lawyers representing the group later said the supporters were observing a religious fast rather than an organised hunger strike. Despite the disagreement over wording, the fact remains that the detainees are not eating while still being held.
Families of the detained fans say they are worried about their health and mental well-being, especially as legal proceedings drag on. Senegalese officials have been in contact with Moroccan authorities, but there has been no clear timeline for the resolution of the case.
The incident has shifted attention away from football and back onto questions of due process and the treatment of foreign nationals. Human rights advocates say keeping fans in detention for weeks after a sporting event, without swift trials, raises serious concerns.
For many observers, the situation is no longer about post-match chaos but about accountability and fairness. The continued detention, combined with the supporters’ decision to stop eating, has turned a football celebration into a diplomatic and human rights issue that Morocco and Senegal will now have to resolve publicly.
