Senegalese midfielder Pape Gueye has broken his silence on the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, strongly dismissing claims of black magic linked to the so-called “towel incident” involving goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Speaking days after Senegal secured a 1-0 victory over host nation Morocco, Gueye addressed one of the most bizarre and widely discussed moments in recent AFCON history.
The towel story explained
During the heated final at Morocco’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, rumours emerged that Moroccan players or ball boys had attempted to take Mendy’s towel in a bid to distract the goalkeeper – a narrative that sparked widespread speculation about voodoo or black magic.
Gueye, 26, who scored Senegal’s decisive goal in extra time, said these claims were entirely unfounded.
“I saw the footage later when they tried to take the towel. Mendy didn’t tell me about it, but in that match, a lot happened – from the towel story to the referee and the stands. Black magic? No, that’s not true,” Gueye clarified.
A chaotic final from start to finish
The final was marked by multiple controversial moments. Senegal briefly walked off the pitch after Ismaël Sarr’s goal was disallowed in stoppage time, and Moroccan striker Brahim Diaz missed a penalty in the 90+24th minute amid clashes between security personnel and Senegalese supporters near the sidelines.
Gueye described how Sadio Mané encouraged players to return and finish the game despite the tension.
Focus on the football
Beyond the distractions, Senegal managed to secure the trophy for only the second time in history, with Gueye’s extra-time strike sealing a hard-fought victory.
He also revealed some of the locker room dynamics: “Did we want to stay in the locker room or not? I was on the pitch with Mané; I don’t know what was said inside. After we scored, the referee didn’t go to review VAR, but when Diaz missed the penalty, we felt it was time.”
