Brahim Diaz takes full responsibility and apologises after AFCON 2025 final penalty miss

Morocco lost 0-1 to Senegal in the AFCON final, with the only goal scored by Pape Gueye in extra time. However, Morocco had a huge chance to win the match in stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty. Senegal players protested the decision and left the pitch. After a delay of around 20 minutes, play resumed, but Diaz missed his Panenka attempt, which proved costly for Morocco.

After the final whistle, Diaz was seen in tears, even as he received the AFCON 2025 Golden Boot award. The midfielder had an outstanding tournament, becoming the first player in the history of the competition to score in five consecutive matches. Despite that, the missed penalty overshadowed his performances and drew heavy criticism.

One day after the final, Diaz broke his silence with an emotional message on his X account. He wrote: “My soul hurts. I dreamed of this title thanks to all the love you have given me - to every message and every show of support that made me feel I wasn’t alone. I fought with everything I had, putting my heart above all else.

“Yesterday I failed; I take full responsibility and apologise with all my heart. It will be hard for me to recover because this wound does not heal easily, but I will try. Not for myself, but for everyone who believed in me and everyone who suffered alongside me. I will keep moving forward until the day I can return all this love to you and be a source of pride for my Moroccan people.”

After the AFCON 2025 final, Diaz will return to Real Madrid to focus on club duties. He will now work under new head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, following the departure of Xabi Alonso during the tournament. Diaz is expected to be available for Saturday’s La Liga match against Villarreal, after Madrid face Monaco in the Champions League.

Since joining Real Madrid in 2019, Diaz has rarely been a regular starter, often coming off the bench. This season, he has played 312 minutes in 12 La Liga matches and 172 minutes in six Champions League games. With only one year left on his contract, the 26-year-old could consider a move in the summer to secure more playing time.