When Panenka Meets Diaz: A Miss That Shook Morocco’s Dream

Panenka Legend weighs in

The legend of Antonin Panenka, the inventor of the famous penalty, has weighed in on Ibrahim Diaz's miss in the decisive Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal in 2025.

Diaz, who plays for Real Madrid, failed to convert a spot kick that would have given Morocco its second AFCON title; Senegal's keeper Edouard Mendy saved the attempt, and the shootout pushed the match into extra time.

History, preparation, and not a shot of mockery

In an interview with Cadena Ser, the 77-year-old Panenka argued that Diaz did not train enough to master the technique. "I am convinced Ibrahim hadn't trained this method as it should be," he said. "The idea came to him suddenly, and he tried it, so he didn't score."

Panenka reminded listeners that he spent two full years practicing before nailing his iconic Panenka against West Germany in the 1976 European final, a moment that sealed Czechoslovakia's only major title.

Asked whether attempting the Panenka is meant to mock a rival, Panenka insisted otherwise: "It wasn't my intention to mock anyone; I believed this was the best way to score in a big final. You don't think about undermining the opponent in a major match, you choose the best method to score."

When asked who is the best player to attempt the Panenka, he replied that many tried it and that he couldn't watch them all, making it hard to pick a single standout.

And for a touch of humor to close: Punchline 1: If life gives you a Panenka, take the risk—just don't tell the goalkeeper it's a prank. Punchline 2: I tried a Panenka at a barbecue once; the grill yelled back, "goal?" and the ball went to the spectators. OK, maybe I should stick to footballs, not grills.