The Towel Snatch Heard Across AFCON: Hakimi, Mendy And The Strangest Final Moment Of AFCON 2025

The Most Unexpected Moment Of AFCON 2025

AFCON 2025 has delivered drama, goals, heartbreak and history — but few expected a towel to steal the spotlight in the final.

In what is now being described as the strangest subplot of the tournament, Morocco captain and CAF Player of the Year Achraf Hakimi was caught on camera in a bizarre “towel-snatching” incident during the Atlas Lions’ 1–0 defeat to Senegal.

The clip, which has since gone viral across X, Instagram and TikTok, shows the Paris Saint-Germain defender walking behind Senegal’s goal, removing goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s towel from behind the post and tossing it behind the advertising boards.

Within minutes, fans noticed. Within hours, the internet exploded.

Why Goalkeeper Towels Matter More Than You Think

For many fans, it might look like harmless gamesmanship. But for goalkeepers, towels are serious business.

Goalies often use towels to dry their gloves, remove sweat or improve grip — especially in humid African conditions. Losing that towel, even briefly, can disrupt routines and concentration, particularly in high-pressure moments like an AFCON final.

That context is exactly why this incident has generated so much reaction.

Even Hakimi too
This was what they did to Nigeria’s Nwabali
I’m glad the Senegalese players matched their madness. https://t.co/oPG09h0C19 pic.twitter.com/up8fcAHyc0

— SERAH IBRAHIM (@TheSerahIbrahim) January 19, 2026

Déjà Vu For Moroccan Football Fans

What made the moment even more controversial is how familiar it felt.

Fans quickly drew comparisons to the heated scenes from Morocco’s semifinal victory over Nigeria earlier in the tournament, a match that already stirred debate around time-wasting, mind games and tactical disruption.

Social media wasted no time connecting the dots, with many accusing Hakimi of psychological warfare, while others dismissed it as harmless mischief blown out of proportion.

Social Media Reacts: From Memes To Meltdowns

As expected, the internet did what it does best.

Memes flooded timelines. Some fans jokingly crowned Hakimi “AFCON’s Minister of Towel Affairs,” while others argued that such antics had no place in a continental final.

Former players and pundits were split too. Some called it clever gamesmanship. Others questioned whether CAF should investigate unsporting behaviour, even though no official complaint has been filed.

Did It Affect The Final Result?

Senegal went on to win the match 1–0, securing another historic AFCON title. Edouard Mendy remained composed, pulling off key saves and never visibly reacting to the incident.

If Hakimi’s actions were meant to tilt the psychological balance, they ultimately failed. Senegal kept their focus. Morocco were left with regrets — and a viral clip that may follow their captain for years.

AFCON’s Legacy: Football, Drama And The Unexpected

AFCON has always been more than just football. It is passion, theatre, controversy and moments no scriptwriter could invent.

The “towel-snatching incident” now joins the long list of unforgettable AFCON moments — strange, funny, debatable and endlessly shareable.

Whether you see it as mind games or needless distraction, one thing is certain: AFCON 2025 will be remembered not just for Senegal’s triumph, but for the towel that briefly became the most talked-about object in African football.

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