Judicial proceedings involving several Senegalese nationals following incidents during the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continue to draw attention. In a report published on Thursday, the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights (OMDH) stated that the trial taking place in Morocco complies with the standards of a fair trial.

According to the organization, the legal process has respected fundamental guarantees provided by international law as well as the Moroccan Constitution, throughout the judicial proceedings.

Defense Allowed to Present Its Arguments Freely

Court independence and presumption of innocence respected

In its assessment, the OMDH emphasized that the court maintained its independence and impartiality while handling the case.

The accused individuals were reportedly able to respond freely to questions and benefited from the principle of presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of international legal standards.

Both the defense and the civil parties were also given sufficient time during the hearings to present their arguments and exercise their right of reply.

The report further notes that the postponements recorded during the proceedings were requested by the defendants themselves, mainly to allow their lawyers to be present or to provide additional time to prepare their defense.

Public Hearings Held in Open Court

Transparent proceedings accessible to the public

The human rights organization also underlined that the hearings were conducted publicly, ensuring transparency in the judicial process.

Members of the public were able to access the courtroom freely, from the entrance of the courthouse to the hearing chamber.

The accused appeared under security escort, in accordance with judicial procedures. However, their handcuffs were reportedly removed before the official start of the hearings.

Conflicting Accounts of the Stadium Incidents

Most defendants deny the accusations

According to the report, most of the defendants rejected the charges brought against them.

Some stated that they had entered the pitch in order to ask supporters to return to the stands, while others claimed they were trying to retrieve personal belongings that had fallen onto the field.

A few defendants said they had been pushed onto the pitch by the crowd during the post-match confusion.

Several individuals also expressed regret over the incidents and issued apologies, while emphasizing the strong relations between Senegal and Morocco.

Medical Incident Reported During a Hearing

One defendant briefly hospitalized

The OMDH report also mentioned a medical incident during the February 5, 2026 hearing.

One of the defendants reportedly felt unwell and was immediately assisted by the court’s medical staff before being transferred to the infirmary for further care.