Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has suggested that the lengthy delay before Brahim Diaz took his penalty kick may have unsettled the Real Madrid forward and contributed to his missed attempt.
Diaz saw his penalty saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in regulation time, a moment that came amid a tense atmosphere when Senegal briefly threatened to walk off the pitch.
The hosts were still unable to recover, as Pape Gueye struck a stunning goal in added time to secure Senegal’s second Africa Cup of Nations title with a 1-0 victory.
After the match, Regragui pointed to the extended pause before the penalty as a key factor in 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 forward now,” the coach told the BBC.
Despite the crucial miss, Diaz finished the tournament as the top scorer, netting five goals.
