Yehvann Diouf, Senegal’s goalkeeper, has recounted the bizarre events that unfolded during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, describing the match as “surreal” and reflecting on the infamous towel incident.
Despite his pivotal role in Senegal’s triumph, Diouf was not in action for Nice in their Europa League clash last night. Still, the newly crowned African champion spoke to the media about the final and the unusual distractions on the pitch.
Warned by earlier matches, including Morocco’s semi-final against Nigeria, Diouf and his fellow Senegalese goalkeepers remained vigilant, but they still fell victim to the towel-snatching antics.
“When it really started to rain, Mory Diaw went to drop off the towels with Édouard. He had barely returned when they had already taken them,” Diouf said, recalling the chaotic scene.
The goalkeeper himself became part of the unfolding comedy. “When I went over, they did exactly the same thing. At first, a Moroccan player chased after me to take the towel; I was astonished,” Diouf added.
He also highlighted the involvement of ball boys, who joined in the antics, creating confusion in the final moments of the match.
The surreal nature of the situation even made Diouf question whether the referee would intervene. “I’m hallucinating, actually, I practically went onto the pitch of my own accord thinking the referee would stop the game, or realise the situation,” he admitted.
Adding a touch of humour to the story, Diouf noted that a ball boy went so far as to urge him to show “sportsmanship” during the episode, underlining the absurdity of the incident that has since become a talking point among fans and players alike.
For Senegal, however, the distractions did not overshadow the ultimate success: winning the AFCON and cementing their place at the pinnacle of African football.
