Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has dismissed suggestions that he colluded with Morocco’s Brahim Diaz over the missed late penalty in the dramatic final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Controversy erupted deep into stoppage time when Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty in the 96th minute following a clash between Diaz and Senegal defender Malik Diouf.
The decision sparked fury among the Senegalese players, who briefly headed towards the dressing room in protest.
After an 18-minute delay, play resumed following the intervention of captain Sadio Mané.
Diaz stepped up to take the spot-kick but saw his Panenka-style attempt saved by Mendy, keeping Senegal alive and forcing the match into extra time.
The miss triggered speculation on social media that Diaz had deliberately failed to convert in order to prevent the final from being abandoned. Mendy firmly rejected those claims in an interview with Canal Plus.
“Do you really think we can agree on something like this with one minute left, after Morocco has waited 50 years? Diaz wanted to score, I tried to block, and that’s it… Let’s put an end to this controversy.
“Some things happened after the penalty was awarded, but in football, the most important thing is always to win.
“We gave it our all without any cheating… The Senegalese national team is the African champion, and we are very happy,” he added.
After 120 tense minutes, Senegal went on to clinch their second AFCON title with a 1–0 victory over the hosts.
The decisive moment arrived early in extra time when Pape Gueye unleashed a stunning left-footed strike from the edge of the area, sparking wild celebrations on the Senegal bench and silencing the Rabat crowd.
