Nwabali mocks Moroccan fans after losing continental title | OneFootball

After the AFCON final, Nwabali taunts Moroccan fans with an Instagram message

Stanley Nwabali / @x.com/SportyBetNG/

Nigerian national team goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has found himself at the heart of a heated controversy following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, after he posted a sarcastic comment directed at Moroccan fans in the wake of their final defeat to Senegal.

The spat between Nwabali and the Moroccan public stems from the now-infamous "towel incident," which became one of the tournament's most memorable storylines. During the clash between Morocco and Nigeria, the Super Eagles' shot-stopper was seen with his personal towel near his goal, which mysteriously disappeared several times, raising plenty of questions about its use—especially during the penalty shootouts.

A message seen as provocative after Morocco's title loss

After Senegal clinched continental glory, Nwabali posted a message on his Instagram account, writing: "Use my towel to wipe away your tears."

The Chippa United goalkeeper’s post—he plays his club football in South Africa—was widely seen as provocative by many pundits and supporters of the Atlas Lions.

To recap, Brahim Díaz and his teammates fell 1-0 in Sunday night's final after extra time, following the Moroccan attacking midfielder’s missed penalty in the dying moments of regulation. With this triumph, Senegal secured the second AFCON title in their history.