orocco were officially pardoned by Mohammed VI and returned to Dakar on May 23.

The supporters received a warm welcome upon arrival, where Bassirou Diomaye Faye personally came to greet them at the airport, highlighting the importance of the event for both the families involved and public opinion in Senegal.

The royal pardon has been widely viewed as a positive diplomatic gesture between Senegal and Morocco, two countries that maintain strong political and cultural relations.

Although details regarding the legal circumstances of the supporters’ imprisonment were not fully emphasized during the reception, the announcement generated strong reactions among Senegalese football fans and on social media.

The supporters are associated with the famous “Lions of Teranga,” the nickname of Senegal’s national football team, one of Africa’s strongest football nations in recent years.

The event also comes at a time of growing excitement around preparations for international football competitions, including qualification campaigns linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Sports journalist Abdoulaye Thiam described the royal pardon as both a humanitarian and symbolic act capable of strengthening ties between the two nations.

Observers note that football continues to play an important social and diplomatic role across Africa, often helping reinforce unity and relations between countries.

The return of the supporters was celebrated in Dakar as a moment of relief and national solidarity for many Senegalese citizens.