‘Senegal didn’t celebrate': Diaz’s missed Panenka sparks suspicion

Brahim Diaz arrived at the Africa Cup of Nations final as Morocco’s talisman. The Real Madrid attacker was the tournament’s top scorer, their creative spark, and the player who had carried them to their first final in 22 years. He left it heartbroken, at the centre of a finale that descended into chaos.

Deep into stoppage time, Diaz went down under a tug from Senegal full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf while defending a corner. After a lengthy VAR review by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, a penalty was awarded.

What followed stunned everyone.

Furious at the decision, Senegal’s players were ordered off the pitch by coach Pape Bouna Thiaw. Several headed towards the tunnel as ugly scenes of jostling and arguments broke out. It took the intervention of Sadio Mane to coax them back.

“What did we say to each other? That's between us. We did it together and we came back together, that's all that matters,” said goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

By the time order was restored, Diaz had been left waiting around 17 minutes to take the kick.

When play finally resumed, the Real Madrid forward stepped up and attempted a Panenka. The chip floated tamely into Mendy’s arms.

“He attempted the Panenka, but I stayed on my feet. We kept the team in the game, and I helped my team at that moment,” Mendy said.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui admitted the delay had played its part.

“He had a lot of time before taking the penalty which must have disturbed him,” he said.

“But that doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit the penalty. He hit it like that and we have to accept it. We were one minute from being African champions. That’s football. It’s often cruel. We missed what for some was the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Diaz’s miss turned out to be the final kick of normal time. Four minutes into extra time, Pape Gueye lashed in the winner, handing Senegal their second title in three tournaments.

The fallout was immediate.

“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.

Former 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,” Mikel added. “This is going to be tough on him, for weeks, for months.”

Efan Ekoku went even further: “It is a moment Brahim Diaz will never get over.”

But the controversy did not end with the miss.

'MISSED ON PURPOSE?'

Observers noted that Senegal’s players barely celebrated Mendy’s save, instead sprinting back into position. ESPN’s VAR expert Dale Johnson floated a provocative theory.

“As Senegal did not celebrate the penalty save it seems logical to assume there was a pact that they would return if Diaz deliberately missed?”

Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri echoed the suspicion on social media:

“How on earth is it possible that Senegal players don’t celebrate at all when Mendy save the penalty on Brahim Diaz?!

I say again: in my opinion it was missed on purpose”

North Africa-based journalist Maher Mezahi revealed the same questions were being asked in the press box.

“All of the journalists here in the press box are asking each other if Brahim Diaz missed the penalty on purpose? Perhaps that's why Senegal agreed to play on?”

Morocco coach Regragui was furious about the wider spectacle.

“The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful,” he said. “A coach who asks his players to leave the field … What Pape did does not honour Africa. He wasn’t classy. But he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants.”

For Diaz, who had lit up the tournament with his goals, the final will now be remembered for one decision under unbearable pressure.