Former Chelsea winger Salomon Kalou has sharply criticized Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz for squandering a golden opportunity to secure the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title for his country. During the final moments of regulation time, with the score deadlocked at 0-0, Diaz won a penalty after a foul inside the area.
However, rather than opting for a clinical finish, the Real Madrid star attempted a delicate “Panenka” chip that Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily gathered.
The missed spot-kick followed a chaotic sequence that nearly saw the match abandoned. After the referee awarded the penalty in the 97th minute, the Senegalese players walked off the pitch in a heated protest that lasted nearly 20 minutes.
Once play resumed, Diaz’s failed trickery shifted the momentum entirely. Senegal capitalized on this reprieve in extra time, as Pape Gueye struck a powerful left-footed winner to crown the West Africans as champions.
Kalou, providing analysis for SuperSport, expressed disbelief at Diaz’s tactical choice during such a high-stakes moment. While Diaz had previously been a standout performer—including scoring the winning penalty in the shootout against Nigeria—his decision in the final drew widespread condemnation from fans and pundits alike. The legendary Ivorian noted that the Atlas Lions’ coaching staff appeared equally frustrated with the missed chance to end Morocco’s 50-year wait for a continental trophy.
Kalou told SuperSport: “He’s been doing great in the tournament itself. This is the moment that you need to be a hero in your country. And then you do that. I’m sure the coaches got it, because you could see the way he spoke to him. There’s an opportunity, because I thought another was going to take it, because the last penalties, he took the winning penalty [against Nigeria]. But then again, you see this.”
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