Edouard Mendy Dismisses Brahim Diaz Penalty Miss Claim After Senegal’s AFCON 2025 Win

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has dismissed claims that Morocco star Brahim Diaz intentionally missed the decisive penalty in Sunday’s AFCON final. 

Mendy claimed it could not be a “serious” suggestion, as Diaz would not let go of the opportunity to win the Atlas Lions’ first AFCON trophy since 1976.

Senegal Beat Morocco in Controversial 2025 AFCON Final

Papa Gueye scored a stunning goal three minutes into extra time as Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 and extended a 27-year AFCON trend. But more than Gueye’s winner, it was the controversies that took centre-stage.

Senegal saw a goal disallowed in the second half injury time, which drew wild protests from the players and Senegalese supporters inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Minutes later, the referee awarded Morocco a penalty after Brahim Diaz went to the ground. Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest, halting the game for around 20 minutes.

If a game is handled unfairly…
If the REFEREE bends the game.
Then have the courage to walk away.

Referees shouldn’t be the headline.
Players should decide the story

Senegal just saved football, not just AFCON.@premierleague will be next.
The corruption there is pic.twitter.com/1IwftGDcYz

— Wins (@WinsLFC) January 18, 2026

The game finally resumed 24 minutes into injury time, with Diaz getting the chance to win the game from the penalty spot. The Real Madrid man went for a Panenka, and Edouard Mendy was perfectly positioned to catch Diaz’s tame effort.

After the game, it has been claimed Diaz missed the penalty on purpose. Mendy, however, remains adamant that it was his merit that stopped Diaz from scoring.

Edouard Mendy Insists Diaz Did Not Intentionally Miss Penalty

When asked if there was a chance that Diaz could intentionally miss his penalty, Mendy told beIN Sports:

“No, of course not. We have to be serious. Do you really think that with one minute left and a country that’s been waiting 50 years for a title, he will intentionally miss? He wanted to score, and I deserve credit for stopping him, that’s all.

“He tried, listen. I tried to stay on my feet as long as possible. We were lucky. We kept the team in the game.”

Mendy said he spoke to captain Mane before the penalty.

With the Africa Cup of Nations on the line, and 114 minutes on the clock, Brahim Diaz attempts a Panenka penalty and it is saved

Incredible drama. You simply cannot beat football pic.twitter.com/m8gd1DZqS1

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) January 18, 2026

“I’m happy because I knew I wasn’t going to have to make many saves.

“But I helped my team at that key moment in the match. Before every penalty, we always talk with Sadio (Mane). I can’t tell you what we said, but we were really eager to take the trophy home. Millions of Senegalese are happy. The Senegalese people are happy, and now we’re going to enjoy it.”

Despite the tournament-deciding miss, Diaz finished as the 2025 AFCON top scorer with five goals. The 26-year-old was in tears as he went up to collect his top scorer award.