Senegal national team backup goalkeeper Yevan Diouf (27, OGC Nice) shared his thoughts on the victory in the towel-snatching incident at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on social media (SNS).
Senegal, coached by Pape Thiau (45), defeated Morocco 1-0 after an extended contest in the 2025 AFCON final at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on the 19th (Korea time).
With this, Senegal lifted the tournament trophy for the second time overall, five years after 2021. Morocco aimed for its first title in 50 years since the 1976 Ethiopia tournament but had to settle for second place for the second time since the 2004 Tunisia tournament.
The match-winner was Pape Gueye (27, Villarreal), who scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of the first period of extra time. But the unsung hero of the victory was Diouf, who performed an unexpected "special mission" without entering the match.
The final was played amid heavy rain that poured down that day. As a result, Senegal's starting goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (34, Al Ahli) desperately needed a towel to remove moisture from his gloves.
But host Morocco carried out persistent psychological warfare. They tried to have ball boys and tournament staff throw Mendy's towel out of the stadium. This was a trick Morocco had also used in the semifinal against Nigeria.
At that moment, backup goalkeeper Diouf stepped in to protect the towel. He fought with ball boys throughout the match to keep Mendy's towel safe.
The live broadcast captured a spectacle in which Diouf was tackled by three ball boys and dragged along the ground, and scenes of him desperately fleeing while holding the towel to avoid the ball boys.
Tensions between the teams peaked when Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi (28, Paris Saint-Germain) was even seen throwing a towel that had been placed beside the goal over the advertising boards.
After lifting the trophy amid twists and turns, Diouf turned the situation into laughter on his SNS. He posted a photo of the towel that had successfully "defended perfectly" alongside his winner's medal.
Diouf added a smiling emoji with heart-shaped eyes to the post and wrote, Finally here. The medal and the towel, earning cheers from Senegal fans.
Meanwhile, the match became controversial beyond the towel dispute due to chaotic events. When Senegal's goal in stoppage time of the second half was disallowed and a penalty was awarded to Morocco, Thiau, Senegal's coach, called the players off the pitch. As a result, the match was suspended for about 17 minutes.
Fortunately, Sadio Mané (34, Al Nassr) persuaded his teammates and the match resumed. Senegal ultimately celebrated after Morocco's Brahim Díaz (27, Real Madrid) missed a clumsy Panenka attempt and Gueye's winning goal sealed the victory.
Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino, president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), strongly criticized the series of incidents in the final on his SNS, saying, The ugly scenes witnessed must be criticized and must never be repeated.
[OSEN]