Former international coach Hervé Renard says the incident involving Édouard Mendy’s towels during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final was rooted in belief rather than coincidence.
The episode, which has continued to provoke debate across the continent since the final, centred on an attempt to remove the goalkeeper’s towels during the match.
Speaking on the Colinterview podcast, Hervé Renard drew on his years of experience in African football to explain why the situation carried greater significance than it appeared to outside observers.
The towels belonged to Édouard Mendy, and the incident quickly became one of the most discussed moments surrounding the final.
While some considered it trivial, Renard suggested the action reflected deeper cultural beliefs.
“People who don’t know Africa can’t understand the real reason behind the towel.The towel has something to do with it. If someone wanted to remove it, it was to cause disruption. People in Europe don’t understand. But there’s something behind the towel. (…) Was it blessed? (…) Ultimately, these are beliefs, and they are important in Africa. Everyone sees it from their own perspective, as they want to see it, but I’ll say it, it wasn’t just about taking a towel,” he said, in comments reported by Afrik-Foot.
Renard, who has coached in several African countries over nearly a decade, indicated that certain objects can be perceived as holding symbolic value during high-pressure matches.
His remarks sought to contextualise the reaction that followed the attempted removal.
The final itself had already generated discussion due to several controversial moments, and the towel incident added another layer to the narrative.
Since then, supporters and observers have continued to debate its meaning and impact.
By sharing his perspective, the former Ivory Coast and Morocco coach suggested the situation should be viewed through a cultural lens rather than dismissed as a simple misunderstanding.
