The towel tussle that made Senegal's second-choice goalkeeper a national hero at Africa Cup

Senegal has an unlikely new hero, and he did not even play in the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final won by his country.

In a bizarre turn of events, Senegal’s second-choice goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf spent long spells of Sunday's match protecting the towels used by starting keeper Edouard Mendy from repeated attempts by ball boys to snatch them.

Diouf's efforts have been praised by fans as being almost as crucial as the extra-time winning goal scored by Pape Gueye, which secured Senegal’s second Africa Cup of Nations title.

Goalkeepers often keep towels close to them to wipe themselves and their gloves, especially in wet conditions such as those during Sunday’s final in Rabat.

Diouf had a crucial role on the sidelines, fighting off the assaults. At one point, he was chased by ball boys along the touchline. Some videos also show him lying flat on the pitch, shielding one of the towels, while a young man tries to wrestle with him.

In other footage filmed from the stands, Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi can be seen throwing one of Mendy's towels over advertising boards. At another moment Morocco midfielder Ismaël Saibari tried to prevent Diouf from handing a towel to Mendy.

Praising the tireless work of the second-choice goalkeeper, one social media user wrote on X: “Yehvann Diouf’s work, guys. You’ve earned the respect of an entire country. SOLDIER.”

Diouf made light of the situation, later posting a picture of him biting on his medal and holding a towel, with the caption: “Here it is (the medal and the towel).”

Speaking to reporters after the match, Diouf said he did not understand why the opposing side got so obsessed with the towels.

“Maybe people read something into those towels, but in any case they were only used to dry the gloves and the face when it’s raining,” he said. “I was just as surprised as you were, but like the team as a whole, we stuck together, and Edouard was able to get the towels he needed.”

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

A ball boy throws a towel used by Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

A ball boy attempts to grab a towel from Senegal's second-choice goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf as he holds it for Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

A ball boy attempts to grab a towel from Senegal's second-choice goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf as he holds it for Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari tries to prevent Senegal's second-choice goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf from handing a towel to Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy dries his face while Senegal's second-choice goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf waits to collect it from him, during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Osoque Mendy, right, approaches Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Díaz before he took a penalty during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi)

Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Osoque Mendy saves a panelty from Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Díaz during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi)

Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Osoque Mendy saves from Morocco's Ismael Saibari during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi)

Senegal's head coach Pape Thiaw and Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Osoque Mendy, center, celebrate after winning the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi)

Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Osoque Mendy clears the ball in front of Morocco's Abdessamad Ezzalzouli during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Savannah Guthrie 's family is “at an hour of desperation” in the search her missing mother, the “Today” show host said in a video released Monday, just hours before a purported ransom deadline apparently set by Nancy Guthrie ’s abductors.

Savannah Guthrie didn’t mention the deadline in the video, saying her family continues to believe their 84-year-old mother is out there and hearing everyone’s prayers.

“She was taken and we don’t know where and we need your help,” Guthrie said in the video posted on Instagram that urged people nationwide to be on the lookout. “No matter where you are, even if you’re far from Tucson, if you see anything, if you hear anything.”

The mysterious disappearance and search has riveted the U.S. — from President Donald Trump who spoke with Savannah Guthrie last week to the online sleuths who’ve flooded social media with tips, theories and rumors.

Multiple press outlets have received alleged ransom letters during the past week. At least one letter made monetary demands and set deadlines for receiving the money. The first deadline passed last Thursday but a second one was set for Monday evening.

Law enforcement officials declined to affirm that the letters were credible but said all tips were being investigated seriously.

Authorities say they have growing concerns about Nancy Guthrie’s health because she needs daily medication. She is said to have a pacemaker and has dealt with high blood pressure and heart issues, according to sheriff’s dispatcher audio on broadcastify.com.

Investigators returned to Nancy Guthrie's Arizona neighborhood several times over the weekend, ahead of a Monday evening deadline set by her purported abductors who sent ransom notes demanding money for her return.

Savannah Guthrie said over the weekend that the family was prepared to pay for her mother’s return.

“We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said in a video posted Saturday. “This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will from her home just outside Tucson. She was last seen there on Jan. 31 and reported missing the next day after not attending church services. DNA tests showed blood on Guthrie’s front porch was a match to her and her doorbell camera was disconnected in the early hours of Sunday morning, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said.

Outside the home on Monday, neighbors strolled by on their morning jogs and walks, while a county sheriff's deputy remained stationed out front.

Detectives and agents carried out follow-up work at multiple locations over the weekend as part of the investigation, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Sunday. “Investigators have not identified any suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles connected to this case,” the department said.

Investigators on Saturday were inside daughter Annie Guthrie’s home, about 4 miles (6 kilometers) from Nancy Guthrie's house. On Sunday, an investigator was seen using a pole to search an underground tank behind Nancy Guthrie’s home.

A person walks a dog as members of the Pima County sheriffs office remains outside of Nancy Guthrie's home, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

A member of the Pima County sheriffs office remains outside of Nancy Guthrie's home, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

FILE - This image provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Department on Feb. 2, 2026, shows a missing person alert for Nancy Guthrie. (Pima County Sheriff's Department via AP, File)

A member of the Pima County sheriffs office stands by his truck looking at Nancy Guthrie‘s house, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Lit candles next to a sign from neighbors supporting the Guthrie family outside of Nancy Guthrie’s house in the early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)