Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, has offered an explanation for Brahim Diaz’s crucial penalty miss in the dying moments of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Senegal on Sunday night.
Regragui believed the Real Madrid forward was “disturbed” by the lengthy delay that preceded the spot-kick.
Diaz had the opportunity to seal victory for the Atlas Lions with the very last kick of the match, but his “weak kick effort” was saved by Senegal’s goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy. The penalty attempt came after a significant 17-minute stoppage, caused by Senegal’s protest and temporary walk-out following the penalty award.
The lame nature of Diaz’s shot has led to speculation that the controversy surrounding the penalty might have impacted his concentration. However, Regragui pointed to the extended wait as the primary factor.
“He had a lot of time before taking the penalty which must have disturbed him,” Regragui told reporters. “But we can’t change what happened. That is how he chose to take the penalty. We need to look forward now.”
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