
Former Senegalese soldier dismissed from army after unauthorized travel to support national team in Morocco
Bara Dia, a former Senegalese soldier, was dismissed from the army after 16 years of service following an unauthorized trip to Morocco to support the national team in the CAN 2025 final. He was arrested on January 18 in Morocco with 17 other Senegalese supporters and sentenced to six months in prison, but later received a royal pardon and returned to Senegal. Dia acknowledges his mistake in leaving the country without authorization during his leave and accepts the administrative sanction, despite not having anticipated the career impact. Now unemployed, he works in plumbing to support his family. He expresses disappointment over the lack of support from the Senegalese Football Federation and the Ministry of Sports since his return, noting he had hoped for assistance after his incarceration in Morocco. Dia faces new professional and family challenges after paying a significant price for supporting the Lions of Senegal at a major sporting event.



