Former South Africa midfielder Teko Modise has delivered a scathing assessment of Morocco star Brahim Diaz following his failed penalty in the AFCON 2025 final loss to Senegal, saying he would cut all ties with a teammate who made such a decision in that moment.
Morocco were seconds away from potentially lifting the trophy on home soil when they were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time of the final, with the score still level. Diaz, however, squandered the chance in dramatic fashion, attempting an unconventional panenka that was easily saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The miss proved decisive. Senegal went on to seize control in extra time, with Pape Gueye firing in a superb left-footed strike in the first half of extra time to secure a 1-0 victory and crown the West Africans champions.
The match had already been filled with controversy, including a disallowed Ismaila Sarr header earlier in the second half for a foul on Achraf Hakimi, and a tense stoppage in the 97th minute after Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch following the award of the penalty.
Speaking during SuperSport’s post-match analysis, Modise made it clear that his frustration was not simply about Diaz missing the penalty, but about the manner in which it was taken.
“There’s nothing wrong with changing your penalty style,” Modise said. “People analyse penalty takers all the time, so you have to adapt. Missing a penalty is part of football.”
However, the former Bafana Bafana star stressed that the context of the moment made Diaz’s decision unacceptable.
“When you’re at home, chasing a first title in 50 years, and you’re the standout player in that situation, you have to understand what’s at stake,” he added. “This is the moment to write history for your country. Your teammates, surrounded by big names, still trusted you enough to give you the ball.”
Modise also questioned why Diaz was allowed to take the kick at all, given his overall performance on the night.
“He didn’t even have a good game, but they still handed him the responsibility. And then, with seconds left, you choose to do that? For me, that’s unforgivable,” he said.
The former Orlando Pirates star went even further, insisting such a decision would permanently damage relationships within a team.
“If you’re my teammate and you do that, we’re done. No talking on the bus, no conversations in the dressing room, nowhere,” Modise stated. “You miss penalties, that happens. But how you miss them matters.”
Modise also recalled that Diaz had previously converted a penalty earlier in the tournament using a more conventional approach, making the choice in the final even more baffling.
“He scored earlier in the competition with his right foot, clean and simple,” he concluded. “Then in the biggest moment of all, you try to be clever. You don’t expect a handshake after that.”
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