Achraf Hakimi has expressed regret over the controversial towel incidents that took place during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, admitting he is not proud of how events unfolded during the tournament’s closing stages.
The incidents, which involved Morocco’s national team in matches against Nigeria and Senegal, saw goalkeeper towels repeatedly taken away from opposition goalkeepers in wet conditions. The situation affected players such as Stanley Nwabali and Édouard Mendy, with camera footage showing Moroccan players, staff, and even ball boys involved during both the semifinal and final.
Reports indicated that the actions appeared aimed at disrupting the goalkeepers’ ability to keep their gloves dry during light rain conditions, creating confusion and controversy around the fairness of the tactics used.
The same pattern was also observed in Morocco’s semifinal clash against Nigeria, where similar attempts were made to take towels from Nwabali, while the final against Senegal also featured comparable scenes involving Mendy.
Speaking after Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Liverpool, Hakimi addressed the issue publicly and admitted disappointment over how the situation was perceived.
“I don’t feel proud about the image we gave off with the towels. Even though that happened, the team did well in the competition,” Hakimi said.
He added that the team remained respectful overall during the tournament despite the controversy, stressing that the atmosphere of high-pressure knockout football may have contributed to tensions on the pitch.
Morocco ultimately reached the final after a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout win over Nigeria in the semifinal, where Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi missed their spot kicks, sealing Morocco’s place in the final amid a highly debated tournament moment.
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