“We Learned from Nwabali’s Experience” – Senegal Keeper on AFCON Final Tactics

Senegal goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf said his team had prepared for disruptions in the Africa Cup of Nations final after observing how Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali was treated during the semi-final against Morocco.

Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time in Sunday’s final in Rabat, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal to secure the Teranga Lions’ second AFCON title.

Beyond the goal, the match was marked by repeated incidents involving towels and goalkeepers. Diouf, positioned close to Édouard Mendy’s goal, was tasked with keeping his teammate’s gloves dry as rain fell. Television footage showed him shielding a towel from ball boys and Moroccan players, including captain Achraf Hakimi.

According to Diouf, Senegal anticipated such disruptions after watching Morocco’s semi-final against Nigeria, where Nwabali was repeatedly denied access to his towels. Nigeria eventually lost that match on penalties after misses from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi.

“We had already seen in the previous match how they took the towels from the Nigerian goalkeeper, Nwabali,” Diouf told BeIN Sports. “They did it during regular time and managed to take them. When I came back with towels for Édouard, they tried the same thing. A Moroccan player chased me, then ball boys and some officials also got involved. My only aim was to make sure Édouard was in the best possible condition because we needed him at his best to win the final.”

Diouf described a chaotic moment when he ended up inside the penalty area during the altercation.

“I almost stepped onto the pitch thinking the referee would stop the game. Instead, I found myself on the ground in the box. I realised I was getting in the way, so I moved away. It was a strange situation.”

Despite the distractions, Mendy remained composed and saved a late penalty in regulation time, a key moment that kept Senegal in the match before Gueye’s extra-time winner secured the title.