Brahim Diaz issues statement on AFCON penalty after claims he missed on purpose

Morocco forward Brahim Diaz has posted a statement on social media after becoming public enemy number one by choosing to take a risky Panenka penalty in the dying moments of the AFCON final

Brahim Diaz has fronted up and apologised to Morocco fans for the dreadful penalty that cost his side in the Africa Cup of Nations final. Diaz saw his Panenka effort easily saved by Edouard Mendy in the dying moments of normal time as Senegal went on to lift the trophy.

A controversial VAR decision handed the hosts the chance to win the final from the penalty spot in the 98th minute. But after Senegal’s players had returned to the pitch, having initially left the field in protest at the decision against El Hadji Malick Diouf, Diaz made a mess of his huge opportunity.

The Real Madrid forward tried to trick Mendy by gently chipping the ball down the middle of the goal, only to see the goalkeeper stand still and easily catch it. The match went to extra time and Senegal won it 1-0 through Pape Gueye’s powerful finish into the top corner.

Diaz’s weak effort prompted some fans to speculate whether he was deliberately trying not to score in solidarity with Senegal following referee Jean Jacques Ndala’s contentious call to award the spot-kick. That suggestion was quashed post-match and Diaz took to social media on Monday to apologise.

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He wrote: “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 apologize 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 boss Walid Regragui defended Diaz, suggesting the long wait between the awarding of the penalty and the taking affected him. Senegal’s protest delayed the game by around 17 minutes, with captain Sadio Mane eventually getting everyone to continue.

“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 after the penalty and reportedly apologised to his Morocco team-mates in the dressing room before breaking down in tears. However, DZfoot has reported that some of the team’s executives are said to be furious and haven’t forgiven him.

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