Panenkagate in Rabat: Ndiaye Slams Diaz as AFCON Drama Ends in Senegal Triumph
9 February 2026
Penalty Politics and a Panenka Debate
Senegalese winger Iliman Ndiaye of Everton sparked renewed talk about the penalty Ibrahim Diaz, the Real Madrid star, converted in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The final, on January 18, seemed headed for extra time, but moments before the end the referee Jean-Jacques Nadala disallowed a Senegal goal, then awarded Morocco a penalty after reviewing the incident on VAR.
Protests, Walkouts, and Return to the Field
This decision drew protests from Senegal's players and technical staff led by coach Papi Thiou, who urged players to walk off the field in protest, with some Senegalese fans leaving the stands and clashing.
The match was halted for several minutes as the Senegalese squad left the field, but star forward Sadio Mane urged teammates to return and continue.
Diaz's Miss, Extra Time, and a Late Senegal Goal
Returning to the field, Diaz took the kick but blasted it straight down the middle in a Panenka-like fashion, and the Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved easily.
The whistle blew to end the moment, and the teams headed into extra time, where Senegal clinched the title with a late strike by Pape Gueye in the 94th minute.
Reactions, Reflections, and the Aftermath
Ndiaye later said the moment seemed somewhat disrespectful, not claiming Diaz meant to belittle Senegal, but suggesting it might have been an attempt to play the star after everything that happened.
He also told The Times that being just minutes from becoming the king of your country matters, and noted that the team had not won for years, and scoring was what mattered most, though he did not fully understand the reasoning behind the decision, he was glad it happened this way.
He finished by saying they believed they would win once the final outcome settled.
Punchline: In football, scripts are written in chalk, but the ball still writes its own drama. Punchline 2: Panenka or not, the scoreboard always has the last laugh.
