Ismael Saibari Faces Criticism Following Controversial Incident at Africa Cup Final

Ismael Saibari sparked controversy during the Africa Cup final on Sunday evening. After being substituted, the PSV midfielder attempted to take the towel from Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, which led to significant backlash. Journalist Mike Verweij has urged PSV to address this behavior with Saibari.

Marcel van der Kraan, Chief Sports Editor of De Telegraaf, expressed his astonishment at the incident. In a podcast episode of Kick-off, he remarked, “If you were to say that someone who has been playing in the rural areas of Rwanda for ten years would do this, it might be understandable. But you wouldn’t expect such behavior from Saibari, a professional at PSV.”

Earlier in the Africa Cup, Saibari had been making a name for himself. According to Eindhovens Dagblad, his performances for the Moroccan national team were enhancing his market value. “For the PSV player, all his appearances in the national team contribute to his rising market worth,” the publication stated over a week ago. “Saibari has already showcased his talent in the Eredivisie and the Champions League, and he has also made notable contributions to Morocco, which has achieved excellent results and is now guaranteed a spot in the World Cup in the United States.” Recently, Saibari has been linked to several major clubs.