Morocco star apologizes for disastrous penalty kick in AFCON final

Morocco star Brahim Díaz has apologized after his late penalty miss cost his team a chance to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on home soil.

In a chaotic sequence near the end of the match, Morocco was handed a golden opportunity to win the title after Senegal was whistled for a controversial penalty with the game tied 0-0.

Senegal manager Pape Thiaw called his players off the pitch in protest, leading to an extended break as they went into the locker room. After nearly 15 minutes, captain Sadio Mané finally convinced his teammates to return.

Díaz attempted a chipped Panenka penalty in the 24th minute of second-half stoppage time, but it didn’t fool Édouard Mendy at all. The Senegal goalkeeper stood still and easily caught the attempt, sending the game into extra time.

Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye found a winner in the 94th minute, giving the Lions of Teranga their second African title in three tournaments.

On Monday, Díaz posted a heartfelt apology on Instagram as he processed how close his country was to its first AFCON title since 1976.

‘My soul aches. I dreamed of this title thanks to all the love you’ve given 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,’ the Real Madrid attacker said.

‘Yesterday I failed, and I take full responsibility and apologize from the bottom of my heart.

‘It will be hard 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 until one day I can repay all this love and be a source of pride for my Moroccan people.’

Despite the miss, Díaz still won the AFCON Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.