As tensions flared in the AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco, violence erupted both on and off the pitch, with Moroccan fans in Dakar facing a terrifying ordeal as their café was attacked. The incident, which led to shattered windows and stolen motorcycles, prompted police intervention. DR DR ‹ › While Senegalese supporters attempted to storm the pitch following the referee's decision to award Morocco a penalty in the 98th minute of the AFCON 2025 final, a chaotic scene that resulted in injuries and police intervention, the tension was also felt far from the stadium. In Dakar, customers at a Moroccan café experienced their own moment of fear. Videos shared online after the match, which ended with Senegal crowned African champions following a 1–0 victory over Morocco after extra time, show Moroccan customers taking refuge behind tables and chairs as the café where they were watching the game was left covered in shattered glass. Some fans can be heard urging fellow Moroccans not to shout in case Brahim Díaz scored the penalty, while others openly prayed that he would miss it. Hier, après le penalty sifflé pour Diaz, des étudiants marocains à Dakar priaient Dieu pour que le penalty soit raté, car sinon, c'était la mort qui les attendait, avec des centaines de Sénégalais en train de leur jeter des pierres et qui les attendaient dehors. pic.twitter.com/WofZOsMdRx — Mjinina (@Ayoubspp) January 19, 2026 Another video documents the extent of the material damage suffered during the night: shattered windows, broken refrigerators, a destroyed grill, and damaged goods. What happened The café in question is Vinizia, owned by Moroccan national Hamdi Mouaffak, located in Dakar's lively Medina neighborhood. The venue is a two-storey café, with a chicken grill on the ground floor and a billiard room upstairs. Moroccan and Senegalese spectators had gathered there that night to watch the final together, a well-informed source told Yabiladi. Le restaurant et salle de billard "VENISIA" à Dakar ??, appartenant à un marocain, a été saccagé suite à la finale de la CAN 2025 entre le Sénégal et le Maroc. pic.twitter.com/4ATsUKM77G — atlasinfo (@atlasinfo) January 19, 2026 After Morocco was awarded the decisive penalty, «a group of young people began throwing rocks at the café», the same source said, adding that the attack «mainly shattered the glass». «Some even tried to storm the restaurant and reach the upper floor, where Moroccan and Senegalese fans were watching the match», he added. The attack prompted the owner to call the police, who later intervened. «People were scared and hid, as shown in the videos. Fortunately, no one was injured, only material damage was suffered by the owner», the source said. Amid the chaos, Moroccan spectators inside the café asked Senegalese customers who were to intervene and speak to the attackers. «That is what happened», the source explained. «The Senegalese patrons went outside to talk to the young people throwing rocks and vandalizing the café, and then the police arrived». During the unrest, several motorcycles parked in front of the café were stolen, «three belonging to Moroccans and two to Senegalese customers», according to the same source. «This was the only reported incident of this kind in the capital», the source said, adding that Vinizia has since reopened and resumed service, with repair work underway, information confirmed on Tuesday by Morocco's embassy in Dakar in an X post. SEM @nacirih12 au café Vinisia( quartier Medina à Dakar), appartenant à notre concitoyen M. Hamdi Mouaffak, à la suite d'un incident isolé survenu durant le match Maroc-Sénégal. pic.twitter.com/aKN1l9pfwx — Le Maroc au Sénégal ?? ?? (@MoroccoInSEN) January 19, 2026 Following the incident, Morocco's ambassador to Senegal, Hassan Naciri, visited the café. In a statement posted on X, the Moroccan embassy in Dakar called the incident «isolated» and captioned photos of the ambassador with the café's owner: «Fraternity, respect, and living together must always prevail». Meanwhile, in Morocco, authorities announced the arrest of 18 Senegalese supporters and one Algerian fan on Sunday night following the disturbances during the Morocco–Senegal final. Several young stewards were injured in the incident, one of them seriously.
