The Confederation of African Football may introduce stricter rules on the use of goalkeepers’ towels after controversial incidents at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Olivier Safari, president of the CAF Referees Committee, said the episodes exposed a gap in current regulations.
The issue first drew attention during the semi final between Nigeria and hosts Morocco, when Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was repeatedly distracted as stadium officials interfered with towels placed behind his goal. Videos of the scenes went viral and sparked criticism from fans and analysts over poor pitchside control.
The matter intensified in the final, again involving the host nation. Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy also faced interference, with ball boys, stewards and players handling or removing his towels. In one widely shared clip, Morocco star Achraf Hakimi was seen taking Mendy’s towel from the goal area.
Tensions rose further when Senegal’s substitute goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf tried to protect the towels. He was chased around the pitch by stewards and ball boys before being forcibly escorted away, creating chaotic scenes that briefly overshadowed the final. Despite the distractions, Senegal went on to win the AFCON title.
Reports say sections of Senegal’s supporters, head coach Pape Thiaw and the Senegal Football Federation could still face sanctions over aspects of their conduct during the final. At the same time, the controversy has prompted calls for clearer rules to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
Reacting in an interview with Canal+ Afrique, Safari said organisers must address the problem before future tournaments. He noted that towels are not officially recognised as playing equipment and warned against their misuse. According to him, a goalkeeper may carry a towel only in a sporting and fair way, and once it is used to shout instructions or influence play, it should be removed from the field.
Safari’s comments suggest CAF could move to update competition regulations so that match officials and organisers have explicit guidance on how to manage towels and similar items around the goal area. Such changes would aim to protect the integrity of games and prevent off field objects from becoming tools of distraction or gamesmanship.
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