‘My soul hurts’ – Brahim Diaz apologises after disastrous AFCON final penalty in emotional statement

Jan 19, 2026 - 17:30

Brahim Diaz issued a lengthy apology on Instagram after his botched penalty cost Morocco Africa Cup of Nations glory.

The Real Madrid ace had the chance to win Morocco their first AFCON in 50 years after winning a penalty deep into stoppage time.

Brahim Diaz takes a penalty in the AFCON final — Diaz could have written himself into Moroccan football folklore but his Panenka spot-kick saw him fluff his lines

However, a staggering 15 minutes elapsed between the penalty being awarded and Diaz’s attempt as Senegal boss Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the pitch in protest at the referee’s decision.

The chaos quickly spread to the stands in Rabat as several Senegal supporters were seen leaping from their seats and clashing with stewards.

Senegal star Sadio Mane eventually retrieved his teammates from the tunnel as the action soon resumed, albeit in the 24th minute of second-half stoppage time.

Unfortunately for Diaz, the lengthy delay proved to have a detrimental effect as he tried to chip Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from the spot.

Mendy read Diaz’s Panenka attempt like a book and easily caught the ball, denying the Atlas Lions the chance to win their first AFCON title sine 1976.

It proved to be a costly error as Papa Gueye’s strike early in extra time was the difference, handing Senegal a famous victory in one of the most chaotic finales to a tournament in history.

Diaz understandably cut a dejected figure post-match and expressed his heartbreak on social media.

Brahim Diaz’s statement on Instagram

“My soul hurts,” Diaz wrote.

“I dreamed of this title thanks to all the love you all gave me, every message, every show of support that made me feel I wasn’t alone.

“I fought with everything I had, with my heart above all else.

Morocco's Brahim Diaz looks dejected after losing the AFCON final — The 26-year-old will look to put things right for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup

“Yesterday 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. Not for myself, but for everyone who believed in me and for everyone who suffered with me.

“I will keep going forward until one day I can give you all this love back and become a source of pride for my Moroccan people.”

Diaz’s penalty miss was far from the most chaotic element of the final.

A group of ball boys attempted to steal Mendy’s towel, with Senegal reserve goalkepeer Yehvann Diouf deployed to protect it.

Such was the ball boys’ efforts to get the towel, they chased Diouf around the side of the pitch and even tackled him to the ground.

Not even over-zealous flag bearers could stop Senegal from lifting the AFCON title

Senegal win AFCON — Sunday’s triumph ensured Senegal enjoyed back-to-back AFCON triumphs having also won in 2022

Despite the flag bearers’ behaviour along with other Moroccan players attempting to mess with rival goalkeepers’ towels, the Atlas Lions were awarded the AFCON fair play award.

Unsurprisingly the unsavoury scenes in Rabat caught the attention of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who blasted the ‘unacceptable’ fiasco.

“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right,” Infantino said.

“We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play. Teams must compete on the pitch and within the Laws of the Game, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk.”