Chiqui Tapia joked about the viral video with his assistant and explained why he was drying the back of his neck

The Argentine National Team reached, once again and not without difficulties, the final of the Copa América after beating Canada this Tuesday night in New Jersey. Along the way, Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia also had them and a video of a member of the entourage drying his perspiration at MetLife Stadium went viral. The president of the AFA took it with humor and explained the curious scene.

The footballers, from the beginning of the competition, highlighted two issues that affected the development of the game during United States 2024: the playing fields and the high temperatures in the different venues that are presented during the North American summer.

It is not clear at what point in the match it was, but the images that flooded social networks show Luciano Nakispro-secretary of AFA and president of Deportivo Armenio, assisting the boss of Argentine football.

Half a day after the 2-0 against Canada and already with his head set on next Sunday’s final in Miami, Tapia used the same digital platform to first join in the laughter that the scene caused and then to give details about it.

At 2:29 p.m., through your personal X account, the head of AFA published a photositting on a white bench, dressed in a blue shirt and matching jeans, in which dry part of your face with a white towel. Smiling, he is accompanied and also assisted by the same leader, part of the delegation.

Nakis holds the towel and is located behind Tapia, but with training clothes. He also looks at the face and smiles, inspired by the sense of humor and good spirits that reign in the team that will seek to become the top historical winner of the continental competition, the oldest in the world and with almost 108 years of history.

The image is accompanied by two emojis that laugh until they cry and by another text published by “Chiqui” at 2:41 p.m.

It begins with a “Ha ha ha”which supports and reaffirms his face in the photo. “These days I had a lot of fever and discomfort due to the high temperatures”the former head of Barracas Central begins by explaining.

“I couldn’t even move and I didn’t want to miss the game. That’s why Luciano Nakis was there to accompany me”he detailed.

The truth is that the 30 degrees and a very high percentage of humidity affected players, spectators and, with no reason to be exempt, leaders.

“It was very difficult and it was very hot, but this group does not stop competing,” declared Ángel Di María after the match, one of his last in the light blue and white.

Miami, which is waiting for its number 10, Lionel Messi, to celebrate near Inter’s home, hopes, according to The Weather Channel, temperatures that will range next Sunday between 27 and 32º. Although it will be “partially cloudy” and with winds of about 20 kilometers per hour, the scenario is announced with a similar panorama.

A week ago, when Argentina defeated Peru in the same stadium where they will seek the two-time championship, Messi, upon getting off the bus, expressed: “Ugh! How hot!” A real warning for the 2026 World Cup.