Four weeks after the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the controversy surrounding the infamous towel continues to spark discussions. At the center of this affair is Hervé Renard, former coach of Morocco, who wanted to clarify this episode that occurred during the match against Senegal.
Invited to the Colinterview, the French coach detailed the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempts to steal equipment belonging to Edouard Mendy, the Senegalese goalkeeper. According to him, this incident cannot be understood without considering certain deeply rooted beliefs in the African context.
Hervé Renard, who has coached several national teams and clubs on the continent – including Ghana, Zambia, Angola, Ivory Coast, and USM Alger – claims that this type of situation is far from trivial. Drawing from his experience in Africa, he explains that certain objects can hold symbolic or mystical significance for some local football figures.
“People who don’t know Africa cannot understand the real reason behind this story,” he stated. For him, the towel in question was not just an accessory to wipe the goalkeeper’s sweat. According to some beliefs, it held a special value that could influence the outcome of a match. The idea that an object could be blessed or carry a form of spiritual protection is not foreign to certain traditions.
According to Renard, if someone tried to take it, it would be to psychologically disturb the player or even to break a potential “power” associated with that object. He emphasizes that, viewed from Europe, the incident may seem trivial or irrational. Yet, in certain cultural contexts, these beliefs play a real role and can influence the behavior of players and their entourage.
The coach stresses that it’s not about judging these practices, but understanding them. “Everyone sees things as they want to see them,” he points out, reminding us that these beliefs are an integral part of certain mindsets. Thus, he concludes, it wasn’t just about taking a towel, but a gesture loaded with meaning in an environment where football sometimes transcends the strictly sporting realm.
