Videos have emerged of how some Moroccan players and stadium staff tried to intimidate Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) final on Sunday, Soccernet.ng reports.
Senegal clashed with hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 AFCON at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat on Sunday.
Going into the game, both teams had established themselves as the best in the tournament, having claimed strong results from the group stage.
However, the hosts had built a reputation for playing dirty. In most of their games at the tournament, there were some contentious calls, and that put them under the searchlight.
In the semis against Nigeria, aside from some shady calls by referee Daniel Laryea, they played some dirty tricks outside the pitch.
There were videos of Moroccan officials stealing Stanley Nwabali's towels during the game in a bid to distract him. There were also racist gestures targeted toward him, as a fan threw a banana at him.
Ball boys, stadium officials stole Nwabali’s towels, their team captain joined in stealing Mendy’s towel. But Congratulations on the fair play award Morocco 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/0nv6DlFMCt
— Series ‘Baj (@Engr_Series) January 19, 2026
Morocco continued with that same behavior in the final against Senegal. First of all, the Senegalese team wasn't well catered for before the game. It was so bad that their Football Federation issued a public complaint.
In the game proper, the referee did pretty well until the closing stages of the match, when he canceled a legitimate goal for Senegal and awarded Morocco a shady penalty.
Despite all the shenanigans, the Teranga Lions still eked out a 1-0 victory to claim their second AFCON title.
How Morocco Tried To Intimidate Edouard Mendy In AFCON 2025 Final
After the game, videos emerged of how Moroccan players and officials tried to intimidate Edouard Mendy during the match.
In the semifinal against Nigeria, they kept their towel antics discreet. But against Senegal, it was more glaring.
Senegal's reserve goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf had to go stand beside the goalposts to personally handle Mendy's towel.
Even then, Ismaël Saibari, Moroccan officials, and the stewards tried to bully him to get him away from there. Nonetheless, he fought his way and remained there.
Senegal came prepared. Moroccan stewards trying to steal goalkeeper's towel like they did to Nigeria. Big up that player 👏🏼#Senegal v #Morocco pic.twitter.com/NId2EtsmAX
— Zio_Fibonacci (@zio_fibonacci) January 19, 2026
Look at the Morocco player waiting around to try steal Mendy’s towel 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/acIRlcEsJI
— george (@StokeyyG2) January 19, 2026
For context, towels are important to goalkeepers because they use it to wipe their gloves to maintain their grip on the ball.
Since there have been a lot of rains in Morocco during the games, the goalkeepers need these towels.
So asides from distracting and unsettling the referees, the goalkeeper would find it hard to make saves.
Salute to Senegal’s reserve goal keeper Yehvan Diouf who was supporting his teammates and handing Edouard Mendy his towel and fighting off MOROCCO RACIST!! Do we have comrades like him in Politics? I don’t know more than 3. We live with snakes pic.twitter.com/9IPimtaE9A
— African (@ali_naka) January 19, 2026
On Monday morning CAF released a circular about the issues during the final, and it is hoped that they will treat this matter.
However, with the way that things went throughout the tournament, the Confederation of African Football can't be trusted.
