Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has addressed Brahim Diaz’s crucial penalty miss in the Africa Cup of Nations final, describing the chaotic circumstances around the spot-kick as a defining factor in his team’s defeat.
Speaking after Senegal’s dramatic win, Regragui criticised the extended delay before Diaz’s attempt, as well as the conduct of the opposing team and coach, calling the scenes “shameful for Africa.”
Morocco’s hopes of lifting the AFCON trophy were dashed after Brahim Diaz missed a key penalty in a match overshadowed by controversy. The final descended into confusion following protests from Senegal, with a lengthy delay preceding the decisive moment.
Walid Regragui blames delay and chaos for Brahim Diaz’s missed penalty
Speaking after the match, Regragui said: “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.”
“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.
The Morocco coach’s comments came after a highly controversial AFCON final in which Senegal briefly walked off the pitch in protest following a disputed penalty decision.
The game was delayed for more than ten minutes, leaving Diaz to stand at the spot amid rising tension before missing his attempt. Regragui suggested that the disruption and gamesmanship influenced his player’s concentration at a crucial moment, leading to Morocco’s narrow defeat in the shootout.
Walid Regragui demands accountability but calls for respect
Continuing his post-match remarks, Regragui 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.
The Morocco boss balanced his frustration with a call for accountability within his squad, insisting that despite the delay and the surrounding chaos, Diaz’s miss remains part of the game.
He praised his team’s overall effort during the tournament but stressed the importance of discipline and respect, especially from those in leadership positions. The comments highlighted Regragui’s broader concern about maintaining professionalism in African football’s biggest competitions.
As Morocco turn their focus to upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Regragui’s words underline a need for composure and maturity on and off the pitch. For Brahim Diaz, the miss represents a painful but defining moment — one that his coach hopes will serve as motivation in Morocco’s next chapter.
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