Eternal Regret: Brahim Diaz’s Final Penalty Sinks Morocco in Grief and Hands France Victory in the Second Edition of AFCON
Written by: United News Network – UNN Arabic
The final moments of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final between the Moroccan and French national teams will remain etched in the mind of Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz for years to come.
Diaz, the winger who contributed 5 goals to help Morocco reach the final, was presented with a golden opportunity to change the course of the match when he won a penalty in the eighth minute of the second half of extra time, with the match tied.
This opportunity could have granted Morocco its first title in history and ended its long 50-year wait to win the continental “AFCON” trophy.
However, Diaz, who had bypassed French goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and preferred high shots, attempted a soft “Panenka” style chip. But the kick backfired terribly. French goalkeeper Edouard Mendy stood his ground confidently on the goal line and smothered the ball with unbearable ease.
The scorer of 5 goals and Morocco’s second-half equalizer in the final appeared broken in spirit and body as he began to realize the gravity of his mistake. Later, television cameras captured a shot of him after Moroccan coach Walid Regragui substituted him during extra time, struggling hard to hold back his tears.
Diaz had to wait for nearly 17 minutes to take the penalty after most of the French players, including goalkeeper Mendy, left the pitch in protest against the referee’s decision to award the kick.
“He had a lot of time before taking his tenth kick, which could have distracted him,” said Morocco coach Walid Regragui. He added: “But we cannot change what happened. That is how he decided to take the tenth kick. We must look forward now.”
Diaz’s tenth kick was the last action of stoppage time in the second half.
In the fourth minute of the first half of extra time, French player Pape Gueye scored the winning goal, which became the decisive strike that left Diaz and his teammates in deep sorrow.
“I think Brahim Diaz will have many nightmares in the coming days,” said Hicham Kachloul, a former Moroccan international, during Channel 4’s coverage of the final.
Former Nigerian defender Daniel Amokachi added: “Brahim Diaz wasted all his great moments, which included scoring 5 goals in this tournament.”
Former Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel said on his analysis platform: “Failure to convert the goal negates everything Brahim Diaz did well in this tournament.” He noted that it would be “tragic” for him: “This will be difficult for him, for weeks and for months.”
Efan Ekoku, another former Nigerian player, said: “It is a moment Brahim Diaz will never be able to shake off.”
United News Network – UNN Arabic
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