Diaz Will 'Have Nightmares' Over 'Panenka' Failure

In a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations final, Senegal clinched the title against hosts Ivory Coast following a chaotic shootout marked by a 14-minute delay and a heartbreaking penalty miss. Édouard Mendy, Senegal's heroic goalkeeper, made a stunning save on Brahim Díaz's audacious Panenka penalty—the last kick of normal time—sealing his team's victory and etching the moment into football lore.

The match, held in a packed stadium buzzing with tension, descended into disarray when crowd trouble forced a lengthy suspension. Upon resumption, the penalty shootout became the decider. Díaz, the Spanish midfielder on loan at Real Madrid, opted for the cheeky chip technique popularized by Antonín Panenka. But Mendy, anticipating the move, dove low to his right and parried the weakly struck effort, sparking wild celebrations among Senegalians.

Former Liverpool star Luis Suárez was among those dissecting the blunder post-match, declaring on social media that Díaz "will have nightmares" over the failure. "What a moment to try a Panenka in a final like that," Suárez posted, highlighting the high stakes. Pundits echoed the sentiment, with BBC Sport analysts noting the psychological blow: attempting a Panenka under such pressure is "the football equivalent of Russian roulette," one expert quipped.

Senegal's triumph was completed moments later when Pape Gueye slotted home the winning penalty, sparking pandemonium. Mendy was named Man of the Match, his save hailed as one of the tournament's defining images. For Díaz, the miss compounds a tough season; despite his flair, critics now question his big-game mentality.

The final showcased Africa's football passion, but also exposed organizational flaws with the delay. Senegal's second AFCON title cements their dominance, while Ivory Coast's hosts rue a golden chance lost to Díaz's nightmare flick.

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