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After coming back to PSV Eindhoven following Morocco’s defeat in the 2025 AFCON final against Senegal, Ismael Saibari paused to comment on the incident that dominated the game: the controversy surrounding the towels used by Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. The midfielder from the Atlas Lions expressed his apologies again, admitting he had not fully recognized the impact of his actions.

A week after the intense final that concluded with high tension, international players have returned to their respective teams. Saibari, still affected by the loss, discussed one of the most discussed moments of the match: when he, along with some teammates and ball boys, tossed Mendy’s towel into the crowd.

After returning to the Netherlands, Saibari shared in an interview that the circumstances worsened because of intense feelings. «It was an error. I recognize it, which is why I offered an apology», he stated to ESPN NL.

Saibari acknowledged that he only understood the gravity of the situation once he got home. “I realized how negatively it was received. I immediately contacted someone from Senegal to apologize, and I also apologized to Édouard Mendy at the airport,” he said, noting that “the matter is now settled.”

Wishing to put the event behind them, the Moroccan midfielder calls on everyone to look forward, despite the ongoing debate surrounding the 2025 AFCON final.