The Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash between Mali and Senegal ended in bitter disappointment for Malian captain Yves Bissouma, who was sent off in first-half injury time for a “needless second yellow card” as his side fell to a 1-0 defeat.
This premature exit from the tournament marks a tumultuous chapter for the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, whose on-field setback is compounded by a looming club investigation into a second alleged laughing gas incident, casting a long shadow over his future in North London.
Bissouma’s dismissal came at a critical juncture, leaving Mali to play the entire second half with ten men against a disciplined Senegalese side. The midfielder, who had only recently returned from injury to lead his nation, watched helplessly as Mali’s campaign ended without a goal from open play in the knockout stages.
This moment of indiscipline on the continental stage intersects with a growing crisis at his club. Tottenham Hotspur confirmed in early December that they had opened an internal investigation following the publication of a video by The Sun allegedly showing Bissouma inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.
A club spokesman stated, “We are looking into the events and it will be dealt with as an internal matter”. This is not the first such controversy for the player, who was banned for one match by former Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou at the start of the 2024-25 season for a similar incident, for which he apologized for a “severe lack of judgement”.
The context for Bissouma’s actions, however, involves profound personal trauma. In a heartfelt public apology, the 29-year-old revealed the severe emotional impact of a series of burglaries at his home during the summer, where property worth approximately £1 million was stolen.
“I am sorry. This incident broke something in me I didn’t even know I could break,” Bissouma said. He described suffering from fear, panic, depression, and paranoia, at times being too afraid to sleep at home and instead staying at the training ground.
He has been in frequent contact with a mental health therapist to cope with the aftermath. “I apologise to the fans,” he added, stressing that his struggles were not an excuse but an explanation for a period where he was emotionally overwhelmed.
Despite these off-field challenges, Bissouma arrived in Morocco for AFCON determined to lead Mali to glory, declaring in a flag-handover ceremony, “We dream of bringing this trophy back to Bamako, and nothing and no one will stop us”.
His participation was initially in doubt due to recovery from ankle surgery performed in October, but he was passed fit, with Mali’s coach Tom Saintfiet emphasizing his importance as captain. His tournament, however, was cut short just as Mali faced its toughest test.
The latest laughing gas allegation places Bissouma’s career at a critical crossroads. His contract with Tottenham expires in June 2026, though the club holds an option to extend it by one year.
His future is increasingly uncertain, having not played for Spurs this season due to a combination of injuries, persistent lateness, which saw him dropped for the UEFA Super Cup, and now repeated disciplinary breaches. Furthermore, he has removed all references to Tottenham from his official Instagram account, fueling speculation about his departure.
Under UK law, enacted in 2023, recreational possession of nitrous oxide is a Class C drug offence carrying a potential prison sentence of up to two years, though clubs typically handle such matters internally.