Regragui draws Mbappe comparison after Diaz’s AFCON final penalty miss

Former Morocco manager Walid Regragui believes the 15-minute interruption before Brahim Diaz’s penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal may have influenced the midfielder’s decision-making.

Diaz missed the late spot-kick as Morocco faced Senegal in the final, with the match halted for about a quarter of an hour after Senegal’s players protested, left the pitch and went to their dressing room before returning.

Regragui, who resigned as Morocco manager after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, questioned whether Diaz would have taken the penalty in the same way if it had been awarded and taken without the lengthy delay.

“There is a question I have about Diaz’s penalty: would he have taken it in the same way if it had been played at that moment, rather than 15 minutes after it was awarded?” Regragui said during an appearance on the Morocco podcast, broadcast by Athir.

The former Morocco boss compared the incident with a penalty missed by Kylian Mbappe against Morocco during France’s match against the Atlas Lions at the 2026 World Cup.

Regragui said Mbappe had complained to the referee that a two-minute stoppage had affected his focus before his attempt was saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

“Mbappe, when he took a penalty against Bounou and missed it, complained to the referee and said that the two-minute stoppage had affected his thinking. So what about Diaz’s thinking when the match was stopped for 15 minutes?” he said.

The former manager also explained that he had not criticised Diaz after the miss. Instead, Regragui said he sought to reassure the player and encourage him to use the experience as a learning opportunity.

Asked what he told Diaz, Regragui said: “I did not say anything to him. I simply said: son, what happened will teach you a lot and make you a stronger player. You have to learn from every experience.”

The penalty came during a dramatic conclusion to the final, after the prolonged interruption caused by the protests and Senegal’s temporary withdrawal from the field. The stoppage meant Diaz had time to wait before taking the decisive kick, a circumstance Regragui believes should be considered when judging the player’s failure to score.

Regragui’s comments offer a defence of Diaz, rather than an attempt to place blame on the player. The former manager’s central argument is that the unusual delay created a very different mental challenge from a normal penalty, particularly at such a decisive stage of the tournament.

The remarks were made after Regragui left his position as Morocco manager following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Fans can continue discussing the issue and other football news in the Koora forums.