A disturbing incident from the high-stakes AFCON 2025 semi-final between Nigeria and Morocco has ignited outrage online, after a video exposed targeted harassment of Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali.
The Shocking On-Field Disruption
The match, played on Sunday, January 14, 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Morocco, saw the host nation's fans employ unsporting tactics. A widely circulated clip, shared by popular influencer Tunde Ednut, captured a young Moroccan man brazenly climbing the barricade not once, but twice, to snatch the face towel Nwabali relied on during the game.
On both occasions, the individual sprinted back into the crowd with the towel, deliberately aiming to break the goalkeeper's concentration. Demonstrating remarkable professionalism, Nwabali remained unfazed, simply retrieving a replacement towel from his coaching staff and continuing his duties without letting the antics affect his performance.
Broader Challenges for the Super Eagles
In his post, Tunde Ednut framed the towel incident as part of a larger pattern of adversity the Nigerian team faced throughout the tournament hosted by Morocco. He pointed out the significant home advantage for the Atlas Lions, citing the overwhelming presence of Moroccan supporters which dwarfed the Nigerian fan section.
"To be honest, Nigeria really tried," Ednut wrote. "Playing in Morocco meant the host nation had a huge advantage. There were a lot of things happening off-camera, including constant taunting of the Nigerian players." He further suggested that match officiating also worked against the Super Eagles, compounding the hostile environment.
Netizens React: Outrage and Calls for Revenge
The video sparked a firestorm of reactions from Nigerians online, who condemned the acts as unfair and excessive. Many praised Nwabali's mental strength for delivering a great performance despite the provocation.
User @michael._u commented: "Omo! To still put out a great performance even in the midst of all that taunting, he deserves some accolades." Others, like @atomacoofficial, focused on future payback: "First to do no dey pain… we go still revenge am one day."
The sentiment of an "Africans against Nigeria" vibe, as noted by user @sunshin.e____, was echoed by several who felt the entire stadium was against the Super Eagles. Many comments also shifted to the final, urging Senegal to defeat Morocco and "do the continent a favor."
In related news, actress Nkechi Blessing had earlier criticized Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze for his missed penalty during the same match, which ended 0-0 after extra time before Morocco prevailed in the shootout.
