Towel controversy at AFCON 2025: Rio Ferdinand calls on CAF

The former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, is demanding explanations from the Moroccan Football Federation after the incidents involving ball boys during Morocco’s matches.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to seek explanations from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation after the so-called “towels” controversy that occurred during the Africa Cup of Nations.

During the final, footage showed ball boys seizing towels from Senegal’s goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, preventing him from drying his hands at key moments of the match. A similar incident had already been observed in the semi-final between Nigeria and Morocco, when the towels of Super Eagles’ goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali were also removed by ball boys.

Invited to react on his podcast Rio Presents, the former Red Devils defender did not mince his words, calling these behaviours senseless. “The worst thing about this AFCON is when the ball kids tried to stop the goalkeepers from drying their hands with their towels. It was madness,” he denounced.

Ferdinand believes that a clarification is essential. “Someone, at some point, absolutely needs to contact the Moroccan Football Federation. We need explanations,” he insisted, before concluding: “By what right do you prevent a goalkeeper from drying his hands? That is an integral part of the game.”