Towelgate Strikes Again as Wydad Edge Maniema in CAF Clash
26 January 2026
Towel Controversy Resurfaces
The towel saga resurfaced during a CAF Confederation Cup group-stage clash between Wydad and Maniema Union on Sunday.
Wydad, the Moroccan champions, edged Maniema Union 1-0 in the third group match of the competition.
But the excitement stretched beyond the goals to the technical area, where the 'towel' incident involving a ball kid drew as much attention as the scoreboard.
Video clips showed attempts by one of the ball boys to grab the towel carried by the staff, with substitutes involved.
In the end, staff secured the towel, placed it beside the goal, and reminded the goalkeeper of its location.
The episode echoed last year's Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, where ball kids chased the towel of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
That game reportedly involved a ball kid, and some players including Achraf Hakimi, tossing the towel far from its target as the debate went global.
That moment sparked widespread coverage in major outlets and a flurry of clips across social networks.
The towel talk dominated headlines and social feeds.
Punchline 1: That towel has more fans than the bench. Punchline 2: Next match, expect towels to file for players' union.
