Tag: Brahim Diaz

PSG coach Luis Enrique has rallied to the support of Brahim Diaz after his Panenka shocker in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Real Madrid midfielder had the chance to win the final for Morocco from the penalty spot late on against Senegal, but fluffed his attempt at a Panenka.

The final then went into extra-time with Senegal winning 1-0 on Sunday.

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Brahim has since been condemned around the world for his effort, but Enrique rejects the criticism. The PSG coach gave Brahim his debut for Spain before the midfielder switched his international commitment.

Enrique said on Monday: “We talked about it today on the bus. Everyone’s talking about Brahim, but I remember Zidane, a football god, who did the same thing in a World Cup final (against Italy in 2006).

“And also Sergio Ramos. If you score a Panenka, they applaud you; if you make a mistake, they only criticise you.”

Enrique also said: “He’s a magnificent player, an exceptional person. I understand it’s hard to accept, but that’s sport. He’s not a criminal, he’s a young man going through a difficult time. He needs support, not to be pilloried.”

Morocco’s Brahim Diaz has apologised for his Panenka penalty miss that cost his country the Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday, saying his “soul hurts” and he took responsibility for the 1-0 defeat by Senegal in the decider in Rabat.

Morocco were awarded a spot-kick in the 98th minute after Diaz was hauled to the ground by defender El Hadji Malick Diouf, an incident that sparked ugly scenes in the stands and on the pitch.

It followed five minutes after a disallowed goal at the other end and the decision, made on Video Assistant Referee review, resulted in some Senegal players leaving the pitch in protest, encouraged by their coach Pape Bouna Thiaw.

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It took over 14 minutes for calm to be restored and the game to resume, only for Diaz to inexplicably attempt a weak chipped penalty that was easily caught by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

It proved one of the last actions before the game went to extra time and Senegal triumphed thanks to Pape Gueye’s superb winner.

“Yesterday I failed, and I take full responsibility and apologise with all my heart,” Diaz said via X.

“It will be hard for me to recover because this wound does not heal easily, but I will try. Not for myself, but for all who believed in me and for all who suffered with me.

“I will keep going until someday I can give back all this love and be a pride for my Moroccan people.”

Diaz, 26, plays for Real Madrid having been born in Malaga and also won a cap for Spain before switching allegiances to Morocco in 2024.

He finished as the leading scorer in the 2025 Cup of Nations after netting a goal in each of Morocco’s first five games at the tournament.

Morocco’s 50-year wait for the continental title will continue at least until the 2027 tournament.

Named after Czech footballer Antonin Panenka, the style of spot-kick is one where the player gently chips the ball into the centre of the goal rather than powerfully to either side, hoping the keeper will commit to diving.

Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz maintained his goal-a-game record at the Africa Cup of Nations by scoring to take Morocco into the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday.

Diaz scored once in each of three group matches and his 64^th -minute strike against the Tanzanians created history as he became the first Moroccan to find the net in four consecutive AFCON matches.

The goal came after Morocco squandered numerous scoring chances while stretching an unbeaten run in competitive and friendly matches to 23. Their last loss was to South Africa at the 2024 AFCON.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, set up the last-16 winner for Diaz, while making his first start in the tournament after coming off the bench in a victory over Zambia last Monday.

The 2025 African player of the year suffered a serious ankle injury playing for PSG against Bayern Munich in the Champions League two months ago.

But Morocco lacked Azzedine Ounahi, who arrived at the stadium using crutches and wearing a medical boot on his left foot. Bilal El Khannouss took his place in midfield.

Morocco were favourites for several reasons, including home advantage, the backing of close to 70,000 supporters, and lying 101 places above Tanzania in the world rankings.

However, it was Tanzania who had the first chance in the third minute, but Saimon Msuva misconnected with a Selemani Mwalimu cross.

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Morocco had the ball in the net after 15 minutes as Ismael Saibari nodded a Abdessamad Ezzalzouli free-kick past goalkeeper Hussein Masaranga but the assistant referee immediately raised his flag for offside and a VAR review confirmed that the PSV striker had strayed too far forward.

Ayoub El Kaabi was the next Moroccan to come close, heading over before being injured in a collision with Masaranga. Both players resumed after treatment.

A Diaz shot was too high from the edge of the box and El Kaabi headed wide as the host nation continued their pursuit of the opening goal, but the first half ended goalless.

In a lively start to the second period, Ezzalzouli and El Kaabi headed wide then, in a rare Tanzanian raid, Feisal ‘Fei Toto’ Salum fired over with only goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to beat.

As Moroccan pressure mounted, Hakimi rifled a free-kick against the crossbar from just outside the box on the hour mark.

A goal seemed inevitable given the relentless pressure from the host nation, and it came thanks to Hakimi and Diaz.

The full-back passed to the forward, who beat Masaranga at his near post with an angled shot from close range.