Brahim Diaz’s missed penalty kick in the Africa Cup of Nations: ‘He will have nightmares,’ critics say.

It was a moment that will haunt Brahim Diaz for years to come.

The winger got the chance to write his name in Moroccan folklore after winning a penalty kick in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time with the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal scoreless.

It was a golden opportunity to end his country’s 50-year wait to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

But Diaz, whose five goals took the hosts to the final, converted a ‘Panenka’ penalty. It backfired. Terribly. Senegal’s goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, stood on the ground and caught the ball in an awkwardly simple manner.

The former Manchester City player and top scorer in the tournament appeared in a daze as he began to sink in what he had done. Later, television cameras focused on him while he was on the Moroccan national team’s bench, after he was replaced in extra time, holding back his tears.

The Real Madrid striker had to wait about 17 minutes to take the kick after the majority of Senegal players, including Mendy, left the field in protest against the penalty kick.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui said: “He had a lot of time before taking the penalty kick, which must have bothered him.”

He added, “But we cannot change what happened. This is the way he chose to take the penalty kick. We need to look forward now.”

It turned out that the penalty kick taken by Diaz was the last kick in normal time.

Four minutes into extra time, Senegalese Pape Gueye fired in the winning goal, leaving Diaz and his Moroccan teammates sad.

“I think Brahim Diaz will face a lot of nightmares in the coming days,” former Moroccan midfielder Hassan Kachloul said in Channel 4’s coverage of the match.

Former Nigeria striker Daniel Amokachi added: “Ibrahim Diaz has wasted all his glorious moments, scoring five goals in this tournament.”

Former Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel said this loss “ruins everything Brahim Diaz did well in this tournament.”

“He will be devastated,” he added. “It will be difficult for him for weeks and months.”

“It is a moment that Brahim Diaz will never get over,” said Ivan Ekoko, a former Nigeria national team player.