Brahim Diaz faces a challenging aftermath following a crucial penalty miss in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final, where Morocco faced Senegal on January 7, 2024. With the match goalless deep into added time, Diaz had a golden opportunity to secure victory and end Morocco’s 50-year wait for an Afcon title. Unfortunately, his attempt—a ‘Panenka’—failed spectacularly, allowing Senegal’s goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, to easily catch the ball, leaving the Moroccan side heartbroken.
The tension escalated as the penalty was awarded in the 98th minute after Senegal’s El Hadji Malick Diouf was deemed to have fouled Diaz. Following a review by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, who was directed to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee, the decision sparked protests from Senegal’s players. Several of them, including notable striker Sadio Mane, initially walked off the pitch in response to the call. After a delay, Diaz finally took the penalty in the 114th minute, only to see his effort thwarted by Mendy.
Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, acknowledged the pressure Diaz faced: “He had a lot of time before taking the penalty, which must have disturbed him. But we can’t change what happened. We need to look forwards now.” The penalty miss proved costly. Just four minutes into extra time, Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal, sealing a 1-0 victory and leaving Morocco in despair.
Former Moroccan international Hassan Kachloul expressed sympathy for Diaz, stating, “I think Brahim Diaz is going to have a lot of nightmares in the coming days.” Other analysts, including ex-Nigeria forward Daniel Amokachi, noted that the miss overshadowed Diaz’s five goals throughout the tournament, while Jon Obi Mikel remarked, “This is going to be tough on him, for weeks, for months.”
The history of the Panenka penalty, made famous by Antonin Panenka in the 1976 Euro final, is filled with both triumph and disappointment. Diaz’s attempt adds to a list of high-profile failures by notable players, including Zinedine Zidane and Andrea Pirlo, who had their own struggles with the technique earlier in their careers. Despite its risks, the Panenka has been successfully executed by football legends such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
As Morocco reflects on this painful loss, Diaz’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the fine line between glory and despair in competitive sports. His journey from a promising start in the tournament to a heart-wrenching end encapsulates the emotional rollercoaster of football, where a single moment can define a player’s legacy.
