My people, wetin dey happen for football world? Na towel wahala don start after AFCON 2025 final wey happen between Morocco and Senegal.
Dis final no be ordinary one, as players from both sides kpai argument wey dem call am the ‘towel incident.’ E be like say Moroccan players comot Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy towel from im goal area, and as expected, fire just catch everywhere!
Olivier Safari, wey be the CAF referees chief, don yarn for Canal+ Sport Afrique say we must review this towel matter before next competition. E talk say towel no be part of goalkeeper equipment. If dem bring am come pitch, e suppose dey used with sense and respect.
For dis naija ball world, you go see say goalkeepers dey use towel to wipe sweat and clean dem gloves, but now, CAF dey reason am serious. Dem fit ban towel use if e dey cause wahala or unsporting behavior for pitch.
As the matter dey hot, no be only fans dey react; social media don scatter, as people dey criticize dis idea say e no make sense. But some dey support CAF talk say anything wey go cause tension for penalty area need control.
Dis towel issue don turn serious since some matches for AFCON don get wahala. Fans don dey try enter pitch to grab towels from keeper dem, and dat na big problem. You fit imagine Egypt’s Stanley Nwabili and Senegal’s captain Mendy don dey challenge spectators during dis intensity. Na so CAF don sabi say the matter dey beyond just crowd control; e touch the laws of the game!
Olivier Safari don clear am for press briefing say dem don instruct match officials to make sure pitch no get foreign objects wey no part of player equipment. “Towel no be jersey, no be shorts, and no be gloves,” e add.
CAF sabi say goalkeepers dey need towel especially for hot weather, but safety and fairness no dey fit compromise. Dem suggest say towels suppose dey kept for back of advertising boards or with team staff, no suppose dey for goal area.
Pala Pala don dey serious, as towels wey dey hang for net fit distract opposing players or even block referee sight. Plus, e fit cause fans to follow pitch enter dangerous area, and that one no good at all. We don see how Mendy and others react to dis during match; e no too sweet!
As e be now, CAF never talk say dem go put formal ban, but di way dis matter dey show say dem fit soon dey strict. Referees go dey sharp, and teams dey expect to change routine to make sure say no personal item dey near goal area. My people, na wetin we dey call fair play o!
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
