By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy has firmly dismissed suggestions that Morocco forward Brahim Díaz intentionally missed his crucial penalty in the closing stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, insisting the Real Madrid star wanted to score and that he deserves credit for making the save.
The dramatic final in Rabat saw Senegal eventually lift the AFCON trophy after a tense 1–0 extra-time victory over hosts Morocco. The match was overshadowed by late controversy when Senegal briefly walked off the pitch in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time. Following lengthy deliberations, play resumed and Díaz stepped up for the spot-kick. His Panenka-style attempt was comfortably saved by Mendy, keeping the scores level and pushing the game into extra time — where Senegal would go on to win.
In the aftermath of the match, speculation circulated online and in some corners of the football community that Díaz may have missed deliberately, a theory fueled by the chaotic context and the unusual manner of the kick.
Addressing these claims, Mendy was unequivocal: “Did Brahim miss the penalty on purpose? No, of course not. We have to be serious,” Mendy said when asked about the notion that the Moroccan attacker might have intentionally failed to score.
“Do you really think that with one minute left and a country that has been waiting 50 years for a title, we can reach an agreement? He wanted to score, and I deserve credit for stopping him, that’s all.”
Mendy’s remarks underline his confidence that Díaz’s intention was to find the net — and that it was Mendy’s save, rather than any questionable intent from the taker, that kept Senegal in the game. The Senegalese keeper’s intervention provided the platform for his side to clinch the title with a Pape Gueye extra-time winner.
The goalkeeper’s comments came amid ongoing debate over the final’s controversial moments, including the walk-off by Senegal’s players following the referee’s decisions late in regulation time. Despite the emotional tension and scrutiny surrounding the match, Mendy’s focus remained on the quality of the save and the integrity of the opponent’s effort.
Senegal’s triumph marked a storied achievement for the West African nation, but it was the drama of the closing minutes — and Mendy’s composed response — that captured headlines across the continent.