Morocco’s Brahim Diaz breaks silence on AFCON penalty after fixing accusations
Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz has shared an emotional statement on social media following his Panenka penalty in the AFCON final
Brahim Diaz has made an emotional statement on social media after missing a penalty in the final of the African Cup of Nations.(Image: )
Brahim Diaz has stepped up and issued an apology to Morocco supporters after his woeful penalty miss proved costly in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
The Real Madrid star’s audacious Panenka attempt was comfortably gathered by Edouard Mendy in the closing stages of regular time, paving the way for Senegal’s AFCON triumph.
A controversial VAR ruling gifted the home nation a golden opportunity to clinch the title from twelve yards in the 98th minute.
Following Senegal’s players’ brief exodus from the pitch in protest over the decision against El Hadji Malick Diouf, Diaz fluffed his massive chance.
The Madrid attacker attempted to outwit Mendy with a delicate chip down the centre, only to watch the keeper remain motionless and gather the ball with ease.
The encounter proceeded to extra time, where Senegal secured a 1-0 victory courtesy of Pape Gueye’s thunderous strike into the top corner.
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Diaz’s feeble attempt led some supporters to question whether he deliberately missed in sympathy with Senegal after referee Jean Jacques Ndala’s disputed decision to award the penalty.
This theory was dismissed after the match, with Diaz taking to social media on Monday to express his regret.
He posted: “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.
“I fought with everything I had, with my heart above all else. Yesterday I failed, and I take full responsibility and apologise from the bottom of my heart. It will be hard to recover, because this wound doesn’t heal easily, but I will try.
“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 manager Walid Regragui came to Diaz’s defence, arguing that the lengthy delay between the penalty being awarded and taken had affected his player.
Senegal’s objections held up proceedings for approximately 17 minutes, with skipper Sadio Mane eventually persuading his teammates to carry on.
“He had a lot of time before taking the penalty which must have disturbed him,” Regragui explained. “But we can’t change what happened. That is how he chose to take the penalty. We need to look forwards now.”
Diaz appeared devastated following the missed spot-kick and is said to have offered his apologies to his Morocco colleagues in the changing room before becoming emotional.
Nevertheless, DZfoot has claimed that certain team officials remain livid and have yet to forgive him.
