Morocco star Brahim Diaz has broken his silence after his seismic penalty miss in part contributed to the national team's 50-year AFCON trophy drought continuing, with the Atlas Lions losing 1-0 to Senegal on Sunday evening. Incensed by the decision of Jean-Jacques Ndala and his refereeing team, Senegal manager Pape Thiaw ordered his players leave the pitch in protest. Diaz looked desolate after squandering his chance, and in his first public statement since missing the penalty, admitted that it would be 'hard to recover' from doing so. 'My soul hurts,' he wrote in a social media post directed at Moroccan fans. When play resumed for extra time, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saw his goal targeted by missiles from Senegal fans.

Source: Daily Mail January 19, 2026 20:46 UTC