Nigerian Football Fan Raises Concerns Over CAF's Fair Play Award Decision at AFCON 2025
A young Nigerian football enthusiast has publicly criticized the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for its decision to grant Morocco the Fair Play award during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The fan's reaction comes after controversial incidents involving Moroccan players and ball boys during key matches against Nigeria and Senegal went viral on social media platforms.
Controversial Towel Incidents During Rainy Matches
The football fan, identified as @SteveNebaFuh on social media platform X, highlighted what he described as ironic behavior from the Moroccan team despite receiving the prestigious sportsmanship award. He referenced multiple videos circulating online that showed Moroccan players and ball boys allegedly taking towels from opposing goalkeepers during matches played in rainy conditions.
In football, goalkeepers typically use towels to dry their gloves and maintain better grip on the ball, especially during wet weather matches. The viral footage reportedly captured instances where Moroccan players, including team captain Achraf Hakimi and teammate Saibari, along with stadium ball boys, were seen hiding or discarding towels belonging to Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Nigeria's goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
Questioning the Fair Play Criteria
The young critic expressed bewilderment at CAF's decision, particularly given the timing of these incidents during crucial tournament matches. "So, Morocco wins the AFCON Fair Play trophy after their captain, #Hakimi, and teammate, #Saibari, as well as ball boys/stewards, were seen snatching opposing goalkeepers' towels, #Nwabali and #Mendy, in the semi-final and final," he wrote in his social media post.
He further emphasized the apparent contradiction by adding: "The irony is pouring down harder than the rain. #AFCON. The world is still waiting for CAF's official reaction to this scandal." This statement underscores the growing demand for transparency and accountability in football governance across the African continent.
Tournament Context and Background
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations concluded with Senegal defeating host nation Morocco 1-0 in extra time during the final match played on January 18, 2026, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Despite their loss in the championship match, Morocco received the Fair Play Team award shortly after the tournament's conclusion, sparking immediate debate among football enthusiasts.
This controversy emerges alongside other notable tournament developments, including:
- Senegal's national team receiving substantial rewards from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye for their championship victory
- A viral prediction from a pastor who accurately forecasted Senegal's single-goal victory before the final match
- Ongoing discussions about tournament organization and officiating standards
The young fan's critique highlights broader concerns about sportsmanship standards in African football and raises important questions about the evaluation criteria used for fair play awards. As the conversation continues to develop on social media platforms, many football followers await an official response from CAF regarding these allegations and the award decision-making process.
