Former Morocco coach Hervé Renard has said he would have been unforgiving if Brahim Diaz had missed the decisive penalty in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, had he still been in charge.
The match, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, saw hosts Morocco face Senegal in a tense and tightly contested encounter.
The turning point came when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty after Diaz was brought down inside Senegal’s 18-yard box.
The decision sparked outrage from the Senegalese side, with players threatening to abandon the match. Play eventually resumed after an 18-minute delay, but the drama was far from over.
Diaz stepped up and attempted a panenka, only for Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to save it. Senegal later sealed the victory in extra time through Pape Gueye’s goal, clinching the title.
Renard, now head coach of Saudi Arabia, told French newspaper Le Parisien that while missing a penalty can be forgiven, he would not show leniency in such a high-stakes situation.
“Missing a penalty is acceptable, but in such cases, I am categorical, and I show no leniency,” he said.
“It’s disrespectful to an entire country and an entire people who have been striving for success for 50 years,” Renard added.
Diaz has since issued an apology to Moroccan fans for letting the nation down.
