Yéhvann Diouf reflects on Senegal’s CAN victory and the Morocco final drama

As the dust settles on the highly anticipated OM-Nice clash, Senegalese goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf has shared his season reflections with L’Équipe. From the bench to the pitch, the international experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in the thrilling Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco.

«The match was surreal,» admits Diouf, who previously played for Reims. «Like many, I’d have wished for a different outcome—not just the victory, but the entire context. Too many controversies overshadowed the federations, the tournament, and the continent. In the end, what matters is the game was played, and Senegal triumphed.»

Yéhvann Diouf opens up about his experience in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, including the controversial incident that followed.

The 1-0 extra-time win secured by Pape Gueye’s decisive goal remains Diouf’s highlight, despite the CAF’s later awarding the victory to Morocco forfeited on the pitch. The decision now awaits the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling.

Senegal-Morocco final: the incident that shouldn’t have happened

As a Niçois player on the sidelines, Diouf witnessed firsthand the bizarre chain of events, including the infamous towel incident that went viral after the match.

«I only realized its impact when we returned home,» he explains. «Fans kept mentioning it, thanking me. All I can say is, if it helped Édouard Mendy perform at his best, then great. But it shouldn’t have happened—it’s not funny, not folklore. Most importantly, it compromised my safety.»