Former West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has explained why the towels used by goalkeepers during matches are not just ordinary towels.
He said having the right level of moisture is crucial to a goalkeeper’s performance, and explained why the strategic use of towels can be an important part of in-game tactics.
During the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final and final, Moroccan ball boys and players, including captain Achraf Hakimi, were seen on several occasions attempting to take the towels of Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The incidents left many fans confused and unsure of what was happening.
Video highlights from the Africa Cup of Nations final showed Moroccan players, including Hakimi, as well as stadium workers, repeatedly taking towels meant to keep Mendy’s gloves dry during light rain and throwing them into the stands.
A similar situation occurred in the AFCON semi-final, when Nwabali faced the same treatment during Nigeria’s match against Morocco.
On several occasions, the Super Eagles goalkeeper was forced to return to the bench to collect new towels after his were taken away.
“Your towel is part of your equipment because your gloves need to be a bit wet to work properly,” Hislop said on ESPN FC.
“So, whether it’s dry weather and you add water and squeeze it until it’s just right, or like in the AFCON final when it’s raining and you have to keep them dry so they work properly.
“I liken it to a player’s boots. You wouldn’t mess with that depending on the weather, and for a goalkeeper, you’re interfering with how their gloves function. I keep giggling because it’s so farcical.
“You had officials jumping, ball boys running onto players, and substitutes coming off the bench chasing technically subs. It was just the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen.”
In their AFCON matches against Morocco, both Nwabali and Mendy kept clean sheets through regulation time and extra time.