AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Technical Committee’s on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 released the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco team of the tournament. The all-star lineup is more than a list of standout names, it's a portrait of African football at its finest. It's dominated by the continent’s three most compelling sides, the All-Star XI features four players each from champions Senegal and hosts Morocco, alongside three from bronze medalists Nigeria.  Together, the recognition of the eleven players of the three nations explained why the AFCON remains one of world football’s most gripping spectacles. Set up in a 4-3-3 formation, the team is anchored by Morocco’s Yassine Bounou between the posts. The experienced goalkeeper was a model of composure throughout the tournament, producing reflex saves and commanding his area with authority as Morocco surged to the final on home soil. The defence blends elegance, power...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  The now-infamous “goalkeepers’ towel dramas," at the 2025 CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) should have been just a footnote in football but has now became one of the most talked-about subplots of the continent's most prestigious hosted in Morocco.  Across the tournament’s most decisive nights, the semi-final and the grand final, a simple towel, used by goalkeepers to dry gloves and steady nerves, became a flashpoint for controversy, gamesmanship accusations, and debates about sportsmanship on Africa’s biggest football stage. The drama first erupted during the tense semi-final clash between hosts Morocco and Nigeria.  As the match stretched nerves to breaking point, Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali repeatedly found his towel placed behind the goalpost as part of his routine, removed or displaced. Television cameras caught moments of confusion as Nwabali turned to retrieve it, only to discover it missing again.  Nigerian pla...