Brahim Diaz’s panenka penalty was saved by Mendy
Real Madrid forward Brahim Díaz has faced severe backlash on social media after missing a crucial penalty during Morocco’s 1–0 defeat to Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
Ismaila Sarr’s goal was disallowed after the referee ruled that there had been a foul on Achraf Hakimi prior to the cross that led to the goal.
In a dramatic turn of events, the host nation was awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of added time when Brahim Díaz was brought down in the box by a Senegalese defender.
Senegal defeat hosts Morocco to win 2025 AFCON
Despite the controversy, Díaz missed the penalty, as his Panenka attempt was easily saved by Édouard Mendy, sending the game into extra time.
In the early stages of the first half of extra time, Pape Gueye struck a powerful shot into the top corner from the edge of the box to secure the victory.
After the game, Díaz was subjected to online abuse as some aggrieved Moroccan supporters stormed his social media pages to hurl insults over his unusual penalty attempt.
Some fans even claimed that, because the penalty was hotly contested by the Senegalese, the Moroccan attacker who had scored five goals in the tournament deliberately missed the spot-kick to safeguard the integrity of the competition.
They argued that the manner in which he took the penalty was not the best, and that a player of his caliber would not make such a mistake in a game of that magnitude.
However, these claims remain mere allegations, born out of the frustration of losing the final to the West Africans after going more than 50 years without lifting the trophy.
Others defended the player that it was never the player’s intention to miss the penalty on purpose and credited the goalie for the save.
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui defended Díaz’s spot-kick, saying that the team fully supports him and does not blame him for the miss, as they believe it is simply part of football.
Read the comments below:
If Brahim Diaz wanted to miss, he would’ve gone off target. He tried a panenka and Mendy was meant to move, unfortunately Mendy didn’t dive early.
Mendy is normally a late diver. He also saved Aguero’s panenka. Panenka doesn’t work on GKs that dive late to save penalties.
— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) January 19, 2026
I don’t get why y’all are saying Brahim Díaz missed that penalty to ‘save the integrity of AFCON.’ Fuck integrity! 😂 Bro just wanted to aura farm….. he missed out of overconfidence and ego😂
He’s a Real Madrid player, after all.
— AR!K£ (@A_rhike) January 18, 2026
I agree with this take. A country that had not won the trophy in 50 years got an opportunity to do so and he didn’t take it.
— Uzochukwu Odozi (@uzochukwueddie) January 19, 2026
I don’t know, but the way he played it he doesn’t look like he wanted to score.
I may e wrong, but that’s how I feel.
— Kvngpatø👑 (@_Pato20) January 18, 2026
In situations like this it’s important to pay attention to little details, ask yourself why was the Senegalese players not rushing to hug and celebrate with Mendy after he saved that pen like everyone just turned and walked like they expected him to miss the pen
— Emexboyy 👑 (@EmekaOfuluchi) January 19, 2026
The penalty was staged for me.
— Elite🏝 (@Eliteonchain) January 19, 2026
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#AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/xlx35baPgg
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) January 18, 2026
this penalty kick looks staged
— Pauluz (@PauluzRFRM) January 19, 2026
It was an unusual reaction, indeed. However, assumptions about intentional misses should be based on clear evidence. Football emotions and celebrations vary depending on focus, pressure, and game context. What matters most is respecting fair play and the spirit of the game
— علي السنيدار (@alialsonidar) January 19, 2026
That save looked planned
— 主任𒀭 (@zhuren1992) January 19, 2026
SB/EB
Meanwhile, watch Ghanaians rate Daniel Laryea’s performance at AFCON.
