The controversial penalty taken by Real Madrid‘s Moroccan star Ibrahim Diaz during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final continues to be a topic of discussion, reignited by recent comments from Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye of Everton. The final, contested between Senegal and Morocco at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on 18 January, was a dramatic affair that nearly went to extra time before a pivotal refereeing decision altered its course.
With the match seemingly headed for an additional thirty minutes, Congolese referee Jean Jacques Ndala disallowed a goal for the Atlas Lions, ruling an infringement by Achraf Hakimi before the ball crossed the line. Minutes later, after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review and a personal check of the monitor, Ndala awarded a penalty to Morocco. This decision sparked immediate and fierce protests from the Senegalese players and their coaching staff, led by Aliou Cissé. The situation escalated to the point where Cissé urged his team to leave the pitch in protest, an action mirrored by some Senegalese supporters who descended from the stands, causing disturbances.
The game was halted for several minutes as the Senegalese players initially exited. However, the team’s captain, Sadio Mané, intervened, persuading his teammates to return and complete the match. Upon resumption, the responsibility for the potentially title-winning spot-kick fell to Ibrahim Diaz.
A Panenka and Its Aftermath
Choosing a moment of immense pressure for an audacious technique, Diaz attempted a delicate ‘Panenka’ chip, sending the ball softly down the center of the goal. Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy read the attempt effortlessly, making a straightforward save. The referee’s whistle blew immediately after the missed penalty, sending the final into extra time. It was there that Senegal secured their victory, with Pape Matar Sarr scoring the solitary winning goal with a powerful strike in the 94th minute.
Reflecting on the incident, Iliman Ndiaye shared his perspective with the British newspaper The Times. “I found it somewhat disrespectful,” Ndiaye stated. “I’m not saying he meant to belittle us, but it was either that, or he wanted to act like a star after everything that had happened.” He expressed bewilderment at Diaz’s choice, noting the high stakes: “I don’t know if I would have done it myself. But you are minutes away from becoming your country’s king. They hadn’t won for many years, and all you had to do was score the goal. So, I don’t understand why he did it, but I’m glad he did it that way.” Concluding his thoughts, Ndiaye revealed the psychological boost it gave his team: “I think we knew after that we were going to win.”