AFCON 2025: “I’m not proud of it,” Hakimi revisits Morocco’s towel theft.
At the heart of the criticism following the incidents that occurred during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Achraf Hakimi apologized, acknowledging a tarnished image despite Morocco’s strong run.
The captain of the Atlas Lions, Achraf Hakimi, revisited the controversies that marred the end of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, notably around the towel-related incidents. During the semifinal and the final, several sequences showed members of the Moroccan squad, but also ball boys, intervening around the opposing goalkeepers by handling or removing their towels. These gestures raised many questions, as they seemed to disrupt the goalkeepers in humid weather conditions.
Among the players involved were Stanley Nwabali, goalkeeper for the Super Eagles, as well as Édouard Mendy, Senegal’s goalkeeper. In the final, footage notably showed towels removed near Mendy, while light rain complicated the playing conditions. A similar scene had already occurred against Nigeria in the semifinal.
Asked by Movistar after Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 victory over Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg, Achraf Hakimi made sure to issue his mea culpa: These are difficult moments, and the match was very tense on the pitch. The Moroccan full-back acknowledged a not-so-proud image: I am not proud of the image we gave with the towels. Despite this incident, the team performed well in the tournament.
Before emphasizing the team’s overall spirit: We showed respect to our opponents during the tournament. On the sporting side, Morocco had booked its place in the final after a tight semifinal against Nigeria, won on penalties (4-2), notably marked by the misses of Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi.
