R. Saissas: 'I told myself that I can't shoot in Panenka style in the final'

2026-03-10 16:14 © AFP

Last week, defender Romain Saïss, who ended his career with the Morocco national team, commented on Brahim Diaz's penalty in the final match against Senegal in a Panenka style and criticized him:

"At this level of the tournament, he shouldn't be doing that on purpose. Let's not talk nonsense.

B. Diaz could have become a hero, but he wanted to become a superhero. I feel sorry for him, as it deflated the entire Moroccan AFCON tournament.”

"I thought: He really didn't do that, did he? I quickly turned away and put my hands on my head.

It happens that you miss a penalty, as that is part of the game. But when he took the shot in a Panenka style, I said to myself, you cannot do that.

Now I smile remembering that episode, but it wasn't like that at the time.”

"We haven't won the AFCON tournament in 50 years. Also, we haven't participated in the final of this tournament for 24 years.”

Brahim Diaz could have secured the title for the Morocco national team, but missed the penalty at the end of added time.

The Moroccan scored five goals in this tournament.