The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat witnessed heartbreak for Morocco as Senegal secured a 1-0 victory in the AFCON final, thanks to a late winner in extra time. The match was marred by controversy, protests, and ultimately, a missed Panenka penalty by Brahim Díaz that will haunt the Real Madrid forward.
The dramatic sequence unfolded deep into stoppage time. With the score still locked at 0-0, a contentious VAR decision awarded Morocco a penalty after El Hadji Malick Diouf was adjudged to have fouled Díaz. The decision sparked outrage among the Senegalese players and staff, who felt that the challenge was not worthy of a penalty. In protest, the Senegalese team, led by coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch, causing a 14-minute delay. FIFA president Gianni Infantino later condemned Senegal's decision to walk off the pitch.
After much deliberation and persuasion from Sadio Mane, the Senegalese team returned to the field, and Díaz stepped up to take the penalty. In a moment of immense pressure, the young forward attempted a Panenka, gently chipping the ball towards the center of the goal. However, his effort lacked conviction, and Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy stood his ground to make a comfortable catch. The miss sent shockwaves through the stadium, leaving Moroccan fans in disbelief.
The game then went into extra time, where Senegal capitalized on Morocco's disappointment. Pape Gueye scored a brilliant goal, securing the AFCON title for Senegal.
Following the match, Díaz issued a heartfelt apology to the Moroccan fans, taking full responsibility for his costly miss. "I failed yesterday and I take full responsibility and I sincerely apologize," Díaz wrote on social media. "It will be hard for me to recover, because this wound does not heal easily, but I will try. Not because of me, but for all who believed in me and for all who suffered with me. I will keep going until one day I can return all this love and be the pride for my Moroccan people". Despite the miss, Díaz was awarded the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals (5) in the tournament.
The missed penalty and the subsequent defeat have sparked considerable debate and analysis. Some have questioned Díaz's decision to attempt a Panenka in such a high-pressure situation, while others have speculated whether he deliberately missed the penalty in solidarity with Senegal following the controversial VAR decision. However, Díaz has denied these claims, stating that he simply made a mistake. Some executives are said to be furious about the penalty miss.
The defeat is a bitter pill to swallow for Morocco, who had hoped to win their first AFCON title on home soil. However, the team will need to regroup and learn from this experience as they look to future competitions. For Brahim Díaz, the final will serve as a harsh lesson in the cruel realities of football, but also as motivation to come back stronger and fulfill his potential for the Moroccan national team.
