The towel fight that turned Senegal’s second-choice goalkeeper into a national hero at the AFCON finals

Senegal has an unlikely new hero, and he didn’t even play in his country’s chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final.

In a bizarre turn of events, Senegal’s second-choice goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf spent long periods of Sunday’s match protecting the towels used by starting goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from repeated attempts by ball boys to take them.

Diouf’s efforts have been hailed by fans as almost as crucial as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winning goal that secured Senegal’s second Africa Cup of Nations title.

Goalkeepers often keep towels close to them to wipe themselves and their gloves, especially in wet conditions such as those during Sunday’s final in Rabat.

READ ALSO: Senegal wins AFCON 2025 after beating Morocco in chaotic final

Diouf played a crucial role on the sidelines in fending off the attacks. At one point he was chased along the sideline by ball boys. Some videos also show him flat on the field, shielding one of the towels, as a young man tries to wrestle him.

In other footage, filmed from the stands, Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi can be seen throwing one of Mendy’s towels over advertising hoardings. At another point, Moroccan midfielder Ismaël Saibari tried to prevent Diouf from handing a towel to Mendy.

One social media user praised the second-choice goalkeeper’s tireless work, writing on

Diouf made light of the situation and later posted a photo of himself biting his medal and holding a towel, with the caption: «Here it is (the medal and the towel).»

Speaking to reporters after the match, Diouf said he did not understand why the opponent became so obsessed with the towels.

“Maybe people read something into those towels, but in any case they were only used to dry the gloves and face when it rains,” he says. «I was as surprised as you, but like the team as a whole, we stuck together and Edouard was able to get the towels he needed.»

Published on January 19, 2026