Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Monday, January 19, 2026, 12:31 / Updated Monday, January 19, 2026 12:44
Breathtaking scenes happened during the Africa Cup of Nations final not only on the pitch but also on the sidelines. Clips are circulating on social media where Senegal's back-up goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf is literally fighting with football kids and Ismael Saibari for Edouard Mendy's towel!
Africa Cup of Nations Final, Senegal – Morocco 1-0proposed chaos on all levels: on the lawn, at the edge of the field, in the conference room.
But what happened in the last part of the game, around Edouard Mendy's goal, is downright crazy.
The Moroccans took a beating, literally, with Yehvann Diouf, Senegal's reserve goalkeeper. The reason? He was guarding the towel of Edouard Mendy, the holder in the goal of the “lions of Teranga”.
Wild scenes in the Africa Cup of Nations final
As it was raining in Rabat, the hosts resorted to every trick imaginable and unimaginable to gain an advantage. In this case, they wanted to steal Mendy's towel so that he no longer wipes his face of drops, respectively no longer dries the ball!
In the footage published on social networks by the spectators at the match, Diouf is seen holding the towel tightly to his chest, and the football kids are trying to steal it! At one point, three boys end up dragging Diouf as he collapses on the lawn.
Big Shout out to Senegal's reserve goalkeeper Yehvan Diouf, who was active all throughout the game handing Edouard Mendy his towel and fighting off ball boys and Moroccan players. A Real Soldier.💪🇸🇳
pic.twitter.com/WXgQBDqDat— Oxford & Harvard☕ (@SeyiGlobal) January 19, 2026
The Senegalese goalkeeper escapes, but ends up being chased by the Moroccans on the edge of the field, while the match was in progress!
One of the footballers, Ismael Saibari, the Moroccan who had played 94 minutes, also took part in the regrettable scenes. Colleague with Dennis Man at PSV, Saibari tries to block Diouf as he wants to pass the towel to Mendy.
Even in these circumstances, the Confederation of African Football awarded Morocco the fair play award, a decision heavily criticized on social media.
