January 27, 2026
Olivier Safari, Chairman of the Referees Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), made statements regarding the controversy that arose over the “towel incident” in the African Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, which was held in Rabat last week and witnessed Senegal winning the title for the second time.
The details of the incident are due to the stadium organizers and Moroccan national team players trying to remove a towel that belonged to Edouard Mendy, the Senegalese national team goalkeeper, from the goal area, which led to tension and a short halt to the match. In statements to Canal + Sport Afrique, Safari explained that removing the towel was necessary because it might affect the course of the game, stressing that it is not considered part of the players’ equipment, and that its removal is imperative when there is any dispute due to its direct or indirect impact.
Safari also warned that using such tools on the field may be considered “unsportsmanlike behavior” or an attempt to influence the outcome of the match, describing this behavior as “unacceptable.”
It should be noted that the Senegalese team won the title with an unanswered goal in extra time, after the match ended in a goalless draw. In the last minutes of regular time, Moroccan player Ibrahim Diaz missed a penalty kick, which deprived the “Atlas Lions” of the opportunity to win the second continental title after an absence of 50 years.
