Yehvann Diouf’s Humorous Role in Senegal’s AFCON Victory

Yehvann Diouf, the reserve goalkeeper for Senegal, humorously commented on his unique role in the recent AFCON final, where he was tasked with protecting his teammate’s towel during the intense match on Sunday.

Despite remaining an unused substitute throughout the final held in Rabat, the 26-year-old played a significant part in Senegal’s second continental triumph in five years under extraordinary conditions. The relentless rain necessitated that the former Chelsea goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, frequently dry his gloves.

Morocco made things particularly challenging by attempting to discard Mendy’s towel, a strategy they had deployed in their semi-final match against Nigeria. Diouf was vigilant in his efforts to safeguard the towel from the ball boys and flag bearers throughout the 120-minute match.

At one point, Diouf found himself tackled to the ground by three ball boys, who dragged him around the pitch, as shown in video footage capturing his amusing escape from their grasp.

Additional footage later revealed Morocco’s captain, Achraf Hakimi, tossing one of Senegal’s towels over an advertising board, further highlighting the chaotic atmosphere of the match.

Following the final, Diouf took to Instagram to share a light-hearted message about his extraordinary commitment to the team’s victory, posting a picture of his winner’s medal alongside the now-iconic towel. Accompanying the image, he included playful emojis, stating, “There it is – the medal and the towel.”

In a sensational encounter at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Pape Gueye scored a remarkable individual goal in the fourth minute of extra time, sealing the win for Senegal. However, the match was marked by controversy when Senegal, under the direction of head coach Pape Thiaw, temporarily refused to continue playing after a goal was disallowed and a penalty was awarded to Morocco in the 98th minute.

Despite protests, former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane managed to persuade his teammates to return to the field after a 17-minute delay. Unfortunately for Morocco, Brahim Diaz, the tournament’s top scorer, missed a crucial penalty with a poorly executed Panenka attempt.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the “ugly scenes” witnessed during the final, further emphasizing the chaotic backdrop of Senegal’s victory.