Towel Scandal Mars AFCON Final as Senegal Beat Morocco

[AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS FINAL, Jan 19] — Senegal clinched the Africa Cup of Nations title with a dramatic 1–0 extra-time victory over hosts Morocco, but the final will be remembered less for football and more for a series of unsporting and chaotic incidents that stunned viewers across the continent.

At the centre of the controversy was Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, whose towel repeatedly disappeared during the match. Television footage showed ball boys and players removing or throwing the towel behind advertising boards, preventing Mendy from drying his gloves during crucial moments.

The situation escalated when Senegal’s substitute goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf was seen physically defending the towel as multiple ball boys chased him across the touchline. The scenes were unprecedented for a continental final and quickly went viral.

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi was also implicated. During a stoppage, the PSG defender was filmed picking up Mendy’s towel and tossing it over the advertising boards, an act that drew loud cheers from home supporters and sharp criticism from neutrals.

Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf eventually retrieved the towel, but the damage to the match’s credibility was already done.

Not an Isolated Incident

The towel controversy echoed an earlier episode in the semi-final between Morocco and Nigeria, where Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali lost his towel under similar circumstances. That incident had already raised questions about ball-boy conduct and match control, questions that resurfaced with greater force in the final.

Refereeing Chaos and Near Abandonment

Beyond the towel saga, the final was marred by refereeing disputes. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed a stoppage-time penalty after a prolonged VAR delay lasting nearly 20 minutes. The decision triggered protests from both teams, with Senegalese players briefly leaving the pitch on instructions from coach Pape Thiaw.

Security forces intervened amid clashes between fans and stewards, and the match came close to being abandoned before order was restored.

Infantino Condemns the Scenes

FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned the events in strong terms, describing the behaviour of some players, officials, and spectators as “inacceptable” and warning that such actions have “no place in football.”

He called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take disciplinary action, stressing that respect for referees and sporting fairness must be upheld at all levels.

A Title Won, a Final Stained

Senegal’s victory crowns them champions of Africa, but the football itself struggled to shine through the disorder. Instead of celebrating tactics, goals, and heroics, fans were left debating towels, ball boys, and breakdowns in match management.

For CAF, the final raises urgent questions about organisation, discipline, and the protection of sporting integrity in high-stakes matches. For Senegal, the trophy is deserved — but the night will forever carry an asterisk of controversy.