AFCON: Diaz ‘takes full responsibility’ for Morocco penalty miss
Midfielder fluffed Panenka penalty in added time
Morocco midfielder Brahim Diaz has apologised for his penalty miss in the closing stages of Sunday’s chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final.
Diaz missed an injury-time penalty that would have handed Morocco the title and Senegal went on to win in extra time.
The decision from referee Jean Jacques Ndala to award tournament hosts Morocco a spot-kick in the 98th-minute, not long after he had ruled out a Senegal goal for a seemingly innocuous challenge from Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi, incensed the Lions of Teranga to the extent they left the field in protest.
After a 17-minute hold-up, Senegal finally returned only for a forlorn-looking Diaz to chip a Panenka penalty straight into Edouard Mendy’s hands. Senegal went on to win the title in extra-time thanks to Pape Gueye’s stunning strike.
Real Madrid midfielder Diaz said: “My soul hurts. I dreamed of this title, I failed and I take full responsibility.
“I apologise from the bottom of my heart. It will be hard for me to recover, because this wound doesn’t heal easily – but I will try.”
The Confederation of African Football has announced an investigation into the “unacceptable behaviour of some players and officials” that marred the end of the AFCON final in Rabat.