Boulahrouz on Diaz's Panenka Penalty: "You are not Zidane, Ronaldo, or Hakimi... What Happened is Extremely Painful"

Former Dutch international Khalid Boulahrouz expressed his strong anger at the way Brahim Diaz missed a crucial penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal. He stated that choosing to execute a "Panenka" style penalty was not appropriate for the moment nor for the magnitude of responsibility placed on a player representing an entire national team.

Speaking to "Ziggo Sport," Boulahrouz said: "It's not just about missing a penalty. No one would have blamed him if he had chosen a corner and shot, and the goalkeeper saved it, or even if he had shot wide."

He added: "But to step up at that moment, with only two minutes remaining, and decide to attempt a 'Panenka,' that means it's about me, not about Morocco, not about forty million people, nor about all those generations suffering from seeing the Africa Cup slip away."

The former Dutch international further stated: "He thought everything should revolve around him. You are not Zidane, nor Ronaldo, nor Hakimi. What happened is extremely painful."

The Senegalese national team was crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating their Moroccan counterparts by a single goal in the match held last Sunday evening at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.