The Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, won by the Lions of Teranga after extra time (1-0), left some unusual images. Beyond the sporting result, an incident at the edge of the field captured attention. Yehvann Diouf, goalkeeper for OGC Nice and a substitute during this match, found himself at the center of an altercation with ball boys and security staff over a simple towel.
The CAN was supposed to conclude with a tense duel between two teams accustomed to high-intensity matches. This Morocco–Senegal final was no exception. However, the scenario went beyond the sporting framework. There were tense scenes observed in the stands, as well as on the sideline. One particular sequence quickly circulated on social media. Videos show Yehvann Diouf being chased, then jostled, by young Moroccan ball boys. The conflict was not over a ball or a referee decision, but a towel belonging to his teammate Edouard Mendy.
The starting goalkeeper for Senegal, Edouard Mendy, used this towel to wipe his face and gloves during the match. As in a previous game against Nigeria, this towel was repeatedly removed by ball boys or stadium staff. Faced with this situation, Yehvann Diouf decided to intervene. During extra time, the OGC Nice goalkeeper spent much of his time protecting this piece of cloth, sometimes walking along the sideline to prevent any new attempt.
An unusual scene unfolded during extra time when tensions heightened as the match was nearing its final minutes. As Morocco pushed to equalize, Yehvann Diouf even entered the pitch to secure the towel that remained near the Senegalese box. The images show a confusing scene. Two ball boys attempted to reclaim the object. Yehvann Diouf found himself on the ground, pulled out of the box. The sequence is surprising by its nature and context. A continental final, a decisive extra time, and an altercation over a mundane accessory.
The ball boys were not the only ones involved. Ismael Saibari, a Moroccan midfielder substituted during the match, also appears in some videos. The scene prompted numerous reactions, both for its unexpected nature and for the impression of an overwhelmed organization at the end of the match.
After the match, Yehvann Diouf reflected on this episode in the mixed zone and in the media. The Senegalese goalkeeper explained his approach during the final: “For me, it was just towels, nothing more, to dry the gloves, the face. Maybe there’s a bit of folklore around these towels, but for me, it was something trivial,” he told Wiwsport. “I tried to ensure that Doudou (Edouard Mendy) was in the best conditions because we need guys like him 100% focused on the field.”
The context was not new for the Senegalese team. During a previous match against Nigeria, similar situations had already been observed. “I was just as surprised as you when I saw they tried to take them. We had already seen with Nigeria that whenever the towels were placed, generally, the stewards would come behind to take them. I don’t know why they did it, but I think it wasn’t fair play.”
This statement highlights a discomfort about the behavior of some peripheral actors to the match. Ball boys, stewards, and security members play a discreet but essential role in the smooth running of a match. During this final, this role was questioned by gestures deemed inappropriate by the Senegalese camp.
As a substitute during this final, Yehvann Diouf was not just a mere spectator. The evening turned into a long struggle to preserve Edouard Mendy’s concentration. Not the Senegalese goals, but an everyday accessory. This situation raises questions about the conditions under which some highly tense matches are played. An Africa Cup of Nations final attracts worldwide attention.
Senegal eventually won this 2025 CAN after extra time. The sporting success remains the central element. However, the towel affair will remain associated with this final. Not for its strategic importance, but for what it reveals about a climate sometimes difficult to control. An unusual scene, which became a symbol of a match where tension sometimes overshadowed the game.
