Morocco's Brahim Díaz missed a Panenka penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, a miss that ultimately cost his side the title. The penalty was awarded after a VAR review for a shirt pull on Díaz, but the forward's audacious chip was easily saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.
The incident was preceded by a 15-minute delay after Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest at the decision, before returning at the urging of Sadio Mané. Díaz had to wait during that period, and his eventual penalty was poorly executed, with Mendy barely needing to move to catch the ball.
Moroccan coach Walid Regragui was critical of Díaz, stating that the delay did not excuse the poor kick. “He hit it like that and we have to accept it,” Regragui said. Díaz was in tears after the match and reportedly inconsolable in the dressing room. Moroccan newspapers were united in their criticism, with Al Mountakhab saying he took the kick “very badly.”
Mendy dismissed any suggestion of a conspiracy, saying, “He wanted to score, I get the credit for stopping it, that’s all.” Díaz had been the tournament's golden boot winner with five goals, but the missed penalty will be a lasting memory.
