AFCON 2025: “They stole six towels from Edouard Mendy,” Mamadou Niang criticizes CAF

La suite après la publicité

The former Senegalese international Mamadou Niang strongly denounced certain behaviors observed during matches involving Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, notably against Nigeria and then in the final against Senegal. A Canal+ commentator, Niang pointed to actions he considers contrary to the spirit of fair play, after footage showing Moroccan players repeatedly grabbing towels intended for Senegal’s goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, in light rain, before tossing them into the stands. A scene already observed in the semifinal against Nigeria, where the Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, faced the same situation.

On several occasions, the Nigerian goalkeeper had to return to his bench to retrieve new towels, the ones provided to him having been removed. A similar scenario repeated itself during the final, Niang said. We saw what happened against Nigeria, where the Nigerian goalkeeper had to continually return to the bench to retrieve a towel to dry his gloves and his face. And that happened several times, Niang explained. They took Édouard’s towel, perhaps five or six times. In the rain, his gloves were soaked and visibility became difficult.

The former forward of the Lions of Teranga believes such incidents should never have happened. The Moroccan players should not have prevented a Senegalese player from giving a towel to his goalkeeper. Many unusual things happened, and the organizers bear some responsibility, he added, urging CAF to strictly enforce the rules of fair play.

As a reminder, Morocco had qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final by eliminating Nigeria on penalties (4-2), despite a save by Stanley Nwabali on Hamza Igamane’s attempt. The misses by Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi had ultimately cost the Super Eagles qualification.