As top scorer and match-winner, Brahim Diaz could have become the hero of an entire nation, but after his memorable penalty miss in the Africa Cup of Nations final, the Moroccan was instead devastated. On Monday afternoon, the Real Madrid forward broke his silence.
Almost 300,000 likes and over 50,000 comments under a post on Instagram that was just 20 minutes old on Monday afternoon impressively underscored the huge impact Brahim Diaz’s Panenka penalty kick into the arms of Edouard Mendy had made in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday evening. Instead of putting the finishing touch on a dramatic final deep into extra time, ending a 50-year drought and becoming a national hero in Morocco, Brahim Diaz became the tragic figure of this home tournament for the North Africans, who lost 1-0 to Senegal in extra time.
And so, the day after the final, it was not a series of jubilant photos that appeared on the 26-year-old’s social media profile, but a black-and-white photo of a visibly dejected Brahim Diaz, who tried to express his deep disappointment at the missed opportunity in the words below.
“My soul hurts,” wrote the Real Madrid pro, who was the tournament’s top scorer with five goals. “I dreamed of this title, thanks to all the love you gave me, every message, every bit of support that made me feel I wasn’t alone. I fought with everything I had.”
Brahim Diaz: “I take full responsibility”
Brahim Diaz did not explain why he decided to shoot that penalty in the last minute of extra time in the middle of the goal, instead choosing to take full responsibility. “Yesterday, I failed. I take full responsibility and apologize with all my heart.“
He said he was sure it would be difficult to recover from this experience, ”because this wound will not heal easily—but I will try.“ He would continue ”until one day I can give back all this love and be the pride of my Moroccan people.”
