“My heart aches” – Brahim Diaz takes blame for AFCON final penalty miss
Morocco forward Brahim Diaz has issued a heartfelt apology to supporters after his missed penalty proved decisive in the Atlas Lions’ defeat to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, extending Morocco’s wait for a continental title to half a century.
Diaz, who plays for Real Madrid, failed to convert a stoppage-time penalty in the 98th minute of normal time after a controversial VAR decision awarded Morocco a spot-kick for a foul by El Hadji Malick Diouf. His attempted Panenka was easily caught by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy after a lengthy delay caused by protests from Senegal’s players, who briefly left the pitch in disagreement with the decision.
The miss allowed the final to drift into extra time, where Senegal clinched a 1-0 victory through a powerful finish from Pape Gueye to lift the trophy. The outcome sparked widespread debate, with some supporters questioning Diaz’s decision-making, though suggestions that the miss was deliberate were quickly dismissed.
In a post-match message on social media, Diaz took full responsibility for the moment that defined the final. “My heart aches. I dreamed of this title thanks to all the love you've given me, every message, every show of support that made me feel I wasn't alone,” he wrote.
“I fought with everything I had, with my heart above all else. Yesterday I failed, and I take full responsibility and apologize from the bottom of my heart. It will be hard to recover, because this wound doesn't heal easily, but I will try.”
He added that his resolve was driven by the support he had received throughout the tournament. “Not for myself, but for everyone who believed in me and for everyone who suffered with me. I will keep going until one day I can repay all this love and be a source of pride for my Moroccan people.”
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui came to the defence of his player, pointing to the unusual circumstances surrounding the penalty. The delay between the award of the spot-kick and its execution lasted more than 14 minutes as Senegal’s players protested, with captain Sadio Mane eventually persuading his team-mates to return to the field.
“He had a lot of time before taking the penalty which must have disturbed him,” Regragui said. “But we can't change what happened. That is how he chose to take the penalty. We need to look forwards now.”
Diaz was visibly distraught at full-time and is reported to have apologised to his team-mates in the dressing room, where he broke down in tears. The miss overshadowed an otherwise outstanding tournament for the 26-year-old, who finished as the leading scorer at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, finding the net in each of Morocco’s first five matches.
Born in Malaga, Diaz previously represented Spain before switching allegiance to Morocco in 2024. His performances had raised hopes that he could be the player to end Morocco’s long title drought, but the dramatic finale ensured that the wait for a first Africa Cup of Nations triumph since 1976 will continue until at least the 2027 edition.
The penalty Diaz attempted was in the Panenka style, named after Czech footballer Antonin Panenka, in which the ball is delicately chipped down the centre of the goal in the hope that the goalkeeper commits to a dive. On this occasion, Mendy stood his ground, leaving Morocco to rue a missed opportunity on the biggest stage.
