Senegal forward addresses Real Madrid star’s decisive AFCON penalty miss: ‘If I have a penalty in the final’ | OneFootball

Brahim Díaz’s missed penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final refuses to fade from the football conversation. 

Even days after the decisive moment, the incident continues to be analysed, debated, and reinterpreted from every possible angle. 

What was meant to be a moment of glory for Morocco instead became one of the defining images of the tournament, especially after Senegal went on to lift the trophy.

The discussion resurfaced strongly over the weekend when Real Madrid returned to league action against Villarreal. 

During Madrid’s 0–2 victory, Kylian Mbappe stepped up to take a penalty and calmly executed a Panenka-style finish. Ultimately, the French star then dedicated the goal to Brahim.

Words of wisdom from a Senegalese

The connection between the two moments was obvious. Brahim had attempted the same type of penalty in the AFCON final against Senegal, but with a very different outcome. 

That miss proved costly, as Morocco lost the match against Senegal.

Days after that final, Senegal forward Keita Balde has added his voice to the debate. 

Brahim Diaz’s penalty attempt has had the world talking. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Speaking on DAZN, the current Monza forward made it clear that his views came with respect rather than criticism. 

“Brahim is a great player. I respect and appreciate him a lot. He’s a player I really like, and I’ve had the chance to talk to him,” he began.

Only after setting this did Balde address the penalty itself. With honesty and humour, he explained how he would have approached the situation if the responsibility had fallen to him.

“If I have a penalty in my country in the final, I’ll smash it in. You have to beat even the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper and the ball inside, both of them,” he said with a laugh.

Balde then offered his reflection on why Panenka penalties are so divisive, especially on the biggest stage. He summed it up by saying,

“I’ll tell you what, if he scores it: ‘Oh, great goal, ‘Panenka’, phenomenal, artist’.

“That’s the problem with the ‘Panenka’, but his guts, his personality, I respect that. If you score it, you’re a star, but if you don’t, you look bad,” concluded the former Espanyol player.