Senegal have a new cult hero — and he didn’t play a single minute of the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Instead, Yehvann Diouf, Senegal’s second-choice goalkeeper, became an unlikely star for spending large
chunks of Sunday’s chaotic final defending towels.
Yes, towels.
As Senegal edged Morocco in a bizarre, stop-start AFCON final, Diouf’s job turned into something no keeper trains for: protecting starting goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s towels from repeated raids by ball boys, and even opposition players.
Senegal’s reserve goalkeeper Yehvan Diouf spent the entire game protecting Mendy’s towel from the Moroccan ball boys. He literally had to fight for it.pic.twitter.com/UdqSkHQ5Ra
— Troll Football Media (@TrollFootball2) January 19, 2026
The final was already wild. There was a 14-minute delay, a late penalty, and Senegal players briefly walking off the pitch. But amid the madness, another storyline quietly stole the spotlight.
Diouf, stuck on the touchline, could be seen wrestling, shielding and sprinting to keep hold of Mendy’s towels.
In one viral clip, he’s chased along the sideline. In another, he lies flat on the pitch, hugging a towel as ball boys try to drag him away.
— Jay (@Jayy_Hardyy252) January 19, 2026
Morocco players even got involved. Captain Achraf Hakimi was filmed tossing one of the towels over the advertising boards, while midfielder Ismael Saibari tried to stop Diouf from handing one back to Mendy.
Just look at Hakimi, our CAF Best player. Shame on him,
I told you guys, the ball boys are instructed to take the goalkeeper’s towels. It is planned.
I knew these little boys cannot be that bold to be doing this in an international tournament.pic.twitter.com/qimA0VnxdK https://t.co/TwpgsigabJ
— TobyWrites (@tobyasky) January 18, 2026
For goalkeepers, towels matter — especially in wet conditions. They’re used to dry gloves and faces, nothing more. But for reasons still unclear, they became a strange point of obsession throughout the final.
Senegal fans quickly embraced Diouf as a folk hero. Some even joked his efforts were just as important as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner.
The incident exploded online. And the man himself? He took it all in stride.
After the match, Diouf posted a photo biting his winner’s medal while holding a towel, captioned simply: “Here it is (the medal and the towel).”
Senegal’s 2nd Goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf had zero minutes this AFCON but was heavily involved in the final against Morocco.
He took up the responsibility of safeguarding Mendy’s Towel, fighting off ball boys, officials and Moroccan players all through 120 minutes. A Legend 🇸🇳👏 pic.twitter.com/qHLikJsz7V
— Yimzy (@oyimzy) January 19, 2026
No saves. No minutes. Just grit, humour, and one very well-defended towel.
