Morocco's PM Declares Ibrahim Diaz Has Stolen Our Hearts
20 January 2026
Overview
Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhnouch praised his country’s hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, calling it the tournament’s most successful edition to date.
Final Drama and Penalty
In Rabat's Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the hosts fell 1-0 to Senegal after extra time. A late penalty for Morocco, awarded after a VAR check, sparked controversy as Senegalese players briefly left the pitch; captain Sadio Mané urged his teammates to return and finish the match.
Diaz, the Moment of Truth
Ibrahim Diaz, who switched allegiance to Morocco, stepped up to take the decisive kick but fired a tame shot straight down the middle, easily saved by Édouard Mendy. The referee, Jean-Jacques Nadala, blew for full time soon after, and Senegal clinched the title with a 94th-minute winner by Papi Gueye. Morocco’s heartbreak was tempered by a performance many felt reflected the nation’s spirit and desire for future glory.
Note to Diaz: in football, sometimes the drama writes itself—your Panenka became a souvenir rather than a scoreboard moment. Punchline aside, Morocco showed grit; the nation now looks ahead to future stages, perhaps even a 2030 dream.
