Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has highlighted Brahim Diaz’s missed penalty as a decisive moment in the team’s narrow defeat to Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, pointing to the chaotic circumstances surrounding the spot-kick.
Speaking after the final in Rabat, Regragui noted that the extended delay before Diaz took the penalty, compounded by protests from the opposing team, affected his player’s focus at a critical stage.
“I think a lot of time passed before [Brahim] was able to take the penalty, and this put him off. The match we had was shameful for Africa,” he said.
Regragui also criticised the conduct of Senegal’s staff, saying: “When a head coach asks his players to leave the pitch, when he’s saying things that already started in the press conference…he needs to stay class, in victory as well as in defeat.”
The disruption, which included Senegal briefly walking off the field in protest over a disputed decision, left Diaz waiting amid mounting tension before ultimately missing the crucial kick.
The Morocco coach acknowledged that while the chaos influenced the outcome, the team must accept responsibility.
“That doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit [the penalty], he hit it like that and we have to own it. We need to look forward now, and accept that Brahim missed it,” he added.
Despite the heartbreak, Regragui emphasised that the experience would serve as a lesson for the squad. He condemned unsportsmanlike behaviour on both sides but stressed that Morocco’s focus must shift to future competitions, learning from the harsh realities of high-stakes football.
“When a head coach asks his players to leave the pitch, when he’s saying things that already started in the press conference [before the match, when Senegal accused Morocco of unsporting tactics]…he needs to stay class, in victory as well as in defeat,” he added.
“What Pape [Thiaw] did tonight doesn’t honor Africa. He’s an African champion now, so he can say what he wants, but they stopped the match for over 10 minutes.
“That doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit [the penalty], he hit it like that and we have to own it. We need to look forward now, and accept that Brahim missed it,” he concluded.
