Senegal's Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration, Cheikh Niang, has addressed the case of 18 Senegalese football supporters detained in Morocco. Speaking on the RTS 8 p.m. news on April 17, 2026, Niang stated that the judicial process concerning the individuals is now concluded.
"Now that the judicial procedure is over, we have a free hand and we are going to work on it," Niang was quoted as saying by Senegalese press agency APS. The minister indicated that the conclusion of the legal proceedings allows the Senegalese government to engage more directly on the diplomatic front to resolve the situation.
The supporters were arrested in Morocco in late 2025 ahead of a CAF Champions League match involving Senegalese club side ASC Jaraaf. Initial reports suggested their detention was related to visa issues. The case has been a sensitive diplomatic matter between the two nations.
Minister Niang's comments mark a public update on the government's position, shifting focus from the judicial to the diplomatic arena. The next steps for securing the supporters' return to Senegal were not detailed in his initial statement.
