Late Penalty, Lingering Debate
In the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, a late stoppage-time penalty gave Morocco a chance to clinch the title. Ibrahim Diaz stepped up and shot through the middle, but Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved easily.
Video clips later raised questions as Senegal teammates did not celebrate the save, sparking theories of a pre-arranged plan to push the match into extra time.
The Aftermath and the Talk
The finish saw the referee order additional time as the sides remained level. Mendy later dismissed the notion of intentional miscue, calling it illogical for a Moroccan to waste a trophy they had not won in half a century. The controversy lingered among fans and analysts, with many still debating Diaz's aim and the symbolism of the moment.
Punchline: If a joke is a penalty, Diaz forgot to aim.
