Three weeks after the CAN 2025 final, the debates are still heated. In an interview with The Times, Iliman Ndiaye reflected on one of the most striking — and controversial — moments of this historic match: Brahim Diaz’s missed Panenka against Édouard Mendy.
On January 18, 2026, Morocco was on the brink of a long-awaited continental title. Just seconds away from glory, Brahim Diaz faced the Senegalese goalkeeper for a decisive penalty. But his bold attempt, a poorly disguised Panenka, was easily caught by Mendy. That moment completely shifted the narrative of the final, leading to Pape Gueye’s winning goal in extra time.
A Panenka that still doesn’t sit right
For Iliman Ndiaye, that choice is still hard to understand today.
“I felt there was a lack of respect. I’m not saying he meant to disrespect us, but either that, or he wanted to act like a star. I don’t get why he did that,” he shared.
The Everton winger went even further, revealing he sensed the failure:
“I was praying, thinking: he’s going to miss.”
A mental turning point for Senegal
According to Ndiaye, that missed penalty marked a real psychological turning point. From that moment on, the Lions of Teranga felt that the match’s fate could shift, despite an already tense final.
The match had indeed been marked by several controversial refereeing decisions, including a disallowed goal and a penalty awarded against Senegal, plunging the game into an electric atmosphere.
A collective withdrawal embraced
Ndiaye also revisited the controversial episode of the Senegalese team’s temporary withdrawal, a collective decision that earned him a two-match suspension.
“We went crazy. It felt unfair. But we stayed united. When everyone decides something, we do it,” he explained, highlighting Sadio Mané’s key role in calming spirits and re-motivating the group.
Today, there seems to be a consensus on both sides: Brahim Diaz’s Panenka will be remembered as the turning point of this final. A gesture that embodies, depending on the perspective, either boldness… or the fatal mistake that changed the course of history.
