Belhanda raises fresh questions over Diaz’s Panenka in Africa Cup final

Former Morocco international Younes Belhanda has suggested, without evidence, that Brahim Diaz may have told Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy he would attempt a Panenka penalty in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Speaking on the French network RMC’s Rothen s’enflamme programme, Belhanda revisited the spot-kick Diaz missed during the closing stages of the final, when Morocco had the chance to win the trophy in front of their home supporters.

Diaz, who plays for Real Madrid, took the penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time but chipped the ball centrally, allowing Mendy to catch it. Morocco eventually lost 1-0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring Senegal’s winning goal in the 94th minute.

“At first, I was angry with him, but in the end you tell yourself: I could have been in his position and done the same thing,” Belhanda said.

The former Nice and Montpellier player, who now plays for Qatar-based Al-Sailiya, said Diaz’s decision should not automatically be considered foolish because the judgement would have been very different had the attempt succeeded.

“If he had scored it, look at Zinedine Zidane in the final,” Belhanda added. “When he scored against Italy in the 2006 World Cup final, I said he was an exceptional player and that what he had done was incredible.”

Belhanda then offered his personal theory about the incident.

“I think they had an agreement over the penalty. I think Brahim Diaz told the goalkeeper he was going to do that,” he said.

Explaining the basis for his suspicion, Belhanda said: “I think that because the Senegalese players’ reaction to the penalty did not suggest they were surprised. You know the emotions involved in a final like that. That is what I think; it is my personal opinion. There is no evidence, it is just a feeling.”

Belhanda’s comments remain an unsubstantiated suggestion. He provided no evidence of an agreement between Diaz and Mendy concerning either the penalty’s execution or its outcome.

The penalty was awarded after a video assistant referee review during a chaotic final quarter of an hour. Senegal had earlier protested after a goal was disallowed for a foul on Achraf Hakimi.

Following the penalty decision, Senegal’s players protested and left the pitch, while some supporters entered the field. The match resumed after a lengthy delay, allowing Diaz to take the spot-kick.

Diaz was visibly distressed after his miss, with tears in his eyes, and was substituted a few minutes later.

Although Morocco had lost the match on the field, the case changed nearly two months later. On 17 March, the Confederation of African Football appeals committee ruled that Senegal had forfeited the game 0-3, citing Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations, which concern leaving the pitch before the final whistle without the referee’s permission.

The Senegalese Football Federation appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is expected to deliver its decision at the end of November.