CAF Referees Committee president Olivier Safari has urged the Confederation of African Football to consider banning the use of towels by goalkeepers at matches, as the governing body reviews controversial incidents from the last Africa Cup of Nations that sparked what became known as the “AFCON towel saga.”
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CAF is weighing the potential ban following disputes involving Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali and Senegal’s Édouard Mendy, whose use of towels during tense moments—particularly penalty situations—provoked accusations of distraction and unsporting conduct.
The incidents drew widespread attention and led to confrontations involving goalkeepers, match officials and stadium stewards.
Speaking on the issue Safari said CAF must addressed it ahead of future competitions.
“This is a problem the organizer must take into account in future competitions,” Safari said. “A towel is not equipment for a player or a goalkeeper. When a goalkeeper carries a towel, it must be done in a very sporting and fair-play manner. As soon as they start shouting or influencing the game, I think that towel should be removed from the playing area.”
While towels are traditionally used by goalkeepers to dry gloves or wipe sweat, CAF believes their recent use has crossed into unsporting behaviour, causing unnecessary disruptions and controversy during matches.
Safari’s remarks also appear to support the actions of match stewards who intervened during AFCON incidents involving Nwabali, Mendy and Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Diouf, all of whom were challenged over towel-related conduct.
Nigeria’s Nwabali, who plays his club football with South Africa’s Chippa United, was central to one of the tournament’s most talked-about moments, as security officials attempted to seize his towel amid protests from players and fans.
CAF is expected to issue a formal directive in the coming months, with the next Africa Cup of Nations just over a year away.
The 14th edition of the tournament will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, as the continental body moves to ensure that similar scenes do not overshadow future competitions.
