Brahim Diaz issues statement after claims he missed AFCON penalty on p | Football | Sport

Brahim Diaz has issued a statement after squandering the chance to win a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final for Morocco with a woeful penalty. There have been some claims the Real Madrid attacker missed on purpose due to the drama surrounding the spot-kick, which was awarded eight minutes into stoppage time. West Ham defender El Hadji Malick Diouf was accused of fouling Diaz inside the box but Senegal were furious with the decision and their head coach Pape Thiaw led his team off the pitch and into the dressing room. 

There was a lengthy delay before the penalty was finally taken 24 minutes into injury time. Diaz, the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, stepped up hoping to deliver glory for the hosts. But he chipped the ball down the middle straight into the arms of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. The woeful manner of the penalty has seen some argue he purposefully refused to score. The match went to extra time and was ultimately settled by a sensational Pape Gueye goal to secure Senegal their second ever AFCON triumph and deny Morocco their first since 1976. And in an emotional statement released on Monday night, a heartbroken Diaz quashed claims he missed on purpose.

“My soul hurts,” the 26-year-old said. “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. 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.”

Senegal keeper Mendy, who used to play for Chelsea, also denied suggestions that Golden Boot winner Diaz intentionally missed from the spot. “No, of course not. We have to be serious,” he said. “Do you really think that one minute left and a country that has been waiting 50 years for a title, we can reach an agreement? He wanted to score and I deserve credit for stopping him – that’s all.”

Morocco manager Walid Regragui reacted to Diaz’s miss: “He had a lot of time before taking the penalty which must have disturbed him. But we can’t change what happened. That is how he chose to take the penalty. We need to look forwards now.”

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It has been alleged that Senegal head coach Thiaw has been suspended after ordering his players off the pitch. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has condemned the scenes that followed referee Jean‑Jacques Ndala awarding a penalty after consulting VAR. Only Senegal and Liverpool icon Sadio Mane refused to walk off.

Infantino said: “We witnessed unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands. We strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members.

“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. 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. It is also the responsibility of teams and players to act responsibly and set the right example for fans in the stadiums and millions watching around the world.

“The ugly scenes witnessed today must be condemned and never repeated. I reiterated that they have no place in football and I expect that the relevant disciplinary bodies at CAF will take the appropriate measures.”

Thiaw apologised post-match while his rival Regragui declared: “The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful. What Pape did does not honour Africa.” And Senegal’s Mane said: “Just imagine for a second going into the locker rooms and the football match stopping there. I think that would convey a negative image of our football.

“I think Africa today does not deserve that. African football has evolved in an incredible way and the proof is that it is followed all over the world. So, on my side, I did what I had to do.

“I think it would be crazy to not play this game because what, the referee gave a penalty and we go out of the game? I think that would be the worst thing especially in African football. I’d rather lose than this kind of thing happen to our football.”