Senegal keeper has praised Nwabali Super Eagles star’s influence at the just-concluded AFCON.
Glamtush reports that Senegal’s backup goalkeeper has revealed how watching Morocco’s ball boys frustrate Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali helped the Teranga Lions win Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat.
Senegal were crowned champions after edging hosts Morocco 1-0 in a tense final, with Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner settling the contest.
However, in the semis and the final, battles involving towels and goalkeepers were as dramatic as the goal.
Yehvann Diouf, stationed near Édouard Mendy’s goal during the final, was tasked with keeping his teammate’s gloves dry as rain began to fall. What followed became one of the most talked-about moments of the night, with footage showing Diouf desperately protecting a towel from ball boys and even Moroccan players, including captain and reigning African Player of The Year Achraf Hakimi.
Senegal had anticipated the disruption after watching Morocco’s semi-final against Nigeria, where Nwabali was repeatedly denied his towels.
Nigeria eventually lost the semi-final on penalties after Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi missed from the spot.
“We had already seen in the previous match how they enjoyed taking the towels from the Nigerian goalkeeper (Nwabali),” Diouf told BeInSports.
“We don’t know why. They did it during regular time and eventually managed to take it. Then, in extra time, when it really started raining, Mory Diaw went to bring towels to Édouard, and by the time I returned, they had already taken them.”
“When I arrived, they did exactly the same thing,” Diouf explained.
“A Moroccan player ran after me trying to grab it, and then the ball boys and some officials also got involved. I did all of this to make sure Édouard was in the best possible condition, because we needed a top goalkeeper to win the final.”
At one point, the situation became almost farcical as Diouf added, “I almost went onto the field by myself, thinking the referee would stop the game. But no, I found myself on the ground, in the penalty area. I realised I was more of a hindrance than anything else, so I got up and moved elsewhere. It was surreal.”
In the end, Mendy stayed focused, saving a penalty in the last minute of regular time, and Senegal went on to win their second AFCON title.
