Senegal Players Walk Off the Field in AFCON 2025 Final Before Embarrassing Brahim Diaz Panenka Penalty Miss

The final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations descended into chaos after Morocco were awarded a penalty deep into added time following a VAR review.

Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot in the 98th minute for a foul on Brahim Diaz by El Hadji Malick Diouf following a corner kick.

Ndala did not award a spot-kick initially — much to the visible disgust of Real Madrid forward Diaz — but was sent to the pitchside monitor and subsequently convinced to change his decision. The score at this point was 0-0.

Senegal players walk off the pitch during AFCON 2025 final

Senegal’s players and coaching staff were furious with the VAR-influenced decision, which came just five minutes after Senegal had seen a goal ruled out for a soft foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi at the other end.

Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players to leave the pitch, with the majority of them following him down the tunnel, although Sadio Mane stayed put and eventually convinced his teammates to continue.

After a delay of more than 10 minutes, the full Senegal team eventually returned to the pitch and play was able to resume.

There was plenty more drama to come.

Diaz took the penalty in the 14th minute of added time and cockily attempted to seal Morocco’s first AFCON title since 1976 with a dinked Panenka effort down the middle.

However, his tame shot was cleanly caught by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, keeping the score at 0-0 and sending the final into extra time. Senegal would go on to win the match 1-0 in extra time.

Watch: Brahim Diaz penalty saved by Edouard Mendy

Penalty taken by Brahim Diaz after a long delay, but Edouard Mendy saved it. Extra time underway and the tension is insane, Senegal fans are livid. #PitchsideAFCON2025 #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/5NBms1Gyek

— #Pitchside (@PetaTabu) January 18, 2026

The shot was so poor that the commentary team on E4 even speculated whether Diaz may have missed the penalty on purpose.

However, his upset reaction — coupled with the fact he had kissed the ball before taking the kick — poured cold water on such a conspiracy theory, although journalist Tancredi Palmeri claimed on social media that he believed Diaz deliberately missed the penalty.

Speaking of conspiracy theories, there will naturally be many who claim that Morocco received favourable treatment from the officials during their home tournament. But the reality is that both major decisions that went against Senegal in Sunday’s final were perfectly justifiable, albeit perhaps harsh.

Senegal’s decision to walk off the pitch was not a good look and is unfortunately likely to be the most memorable storyline of AFCON 2025.

By contrast, their response after Diaz’s dismal dink was terrific. Senegal started extra time superbly and went 1-0 up courtesy of a brilliant strike from Pape Gueye.

That goal arrived just four minutes into extra time, and Diaz was substituted shortly afterwards.

Diaz would later be confirmed as AFCON 2025’s Golden Boot winner, but it is not an achievement he will likely celebrate too heavily under the circumstances.

Senegal should have made it 2-0 in the latter stages of extra time, but Cherif Ndiaye missed an open goal from seven yards.