Key Highlights
- Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy stood his ground and caught the ball in embarrassingly simple fashion. The former Manchester City player and tournament's top-scorer looked distraught as it began to sink in what he had done.
- Later, television cameras zoomed in on him on the Morocco bench, after he had been substituted in extra time, holding back tears. The Real Madrid attacker had been made to wait around 17 minutes to take the kick after the majority of Senegal's players, including Mendy, marched off the pitch in protest at the award of the penalty. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"He had a lot of time before taking the penalty which must have disturbed him," said Morocco manager Walid Regragui."But we can't change what happened.
- That is how he chose to take the penalty.
- We need to look forwards now."Diaz's penalty turned out to be the last kick of normal time. Four minutes into extra time, Senegal's Pape Gueye lashed in what turned out to be the winner to leave Diaz and his Morocco team-mates heartbroken."I think Brahim Diaz is going to have a lot of nightmares in the coming days," former Morocco midfielder Hassan Kachloul said on Channel 4's coverage of the match. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFormer Nigeria forward Daniel Amokachi added: "Brahim Diaz threw away all of his glorious moments, scoring five goals in this tournament."And ex-Nigeria midfielder Jon Obi Mikel said the miss "spoils everything Brahim Diaz has done well in this tournament"."He is going to be devastated," he added.
- "This is going to be tough on him, for weeks, for months."Efan Ekoku, another former Nigeria international, said: "It is a moment Brahim Diaz will never get over."Senegal win Afcon after chaotic final against MoroccoSenegal walk off in Afcon final over penalty awardAfcon 2025 podcast: Senegal are champions after final descends into chaosSporting Witness: How the Panenka penalty was inventedWhat happened?The final was goalless deep into added time at the end of the second half when Diaz El Hadji Malick Diouf appeared to drag Diaz to the ground by his neck. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDR Congo referee Jean-Jacques Ndala was sent to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee and, after a quick check, pointed to the penalty spot in the 98th minute. Already incensed after a decision to disallow a Senegal goal in the 93rd minute, head coach Pape Thiaw tried to usher his team off the field, and several Senegal players left for the dressing room. Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane stayed on the pitch and tried to coax his Senegal team-mates back on to finish the match. When the penalty was eventually taken in the 114th minute, Diaz saw his tame attempt saved by Mendy. Pape Gueye put Senegal in front four minutes into extra time.