DR ‹ › Nearly two months after Morocco's defeat to Senegal (1–0) in the Africa Cup of Nations final on home soil, the disappointment still lingers among players and fans. One moment in particular continues to dominate discussions: Brahim Díaz's missed Panenka in the final minutes, which has come to symbolize the night the Morocco national football team let the trophy slip away. Forced to watch the match from the bench due to injury, Romain Saïss says the moment still haunts him. Speaking to Colinterview, the former Morocco captain described his reaction when Díaz stepped up for the penalty. "He didn't dare do that?!"⚡️ Romain Saïss, the captain of Morocco, recounts his "nightmare" of Brahim Diaz's penalty and the CAN final ?? Interview coming soon on Colinterview ?#Maroc #CAN #Panenka #brahimdiaz #penalty pic.twitter.com/mypypV8GDQ — Colinterview (@Colinterview) March 5, 2026 «When he tried the Panenka, I immediately turned around with my hands on my head. I thought: he didn't really just try that», the defender recalled. For Saïss, missing a penalty is simply part of football. «Achraf has missed one at a crucial moment before, Hakim Ziyech too. They stepped up, they took responsibility. It happens». What surprised him, however, was the choice of technique given the context. «We were in the final seconds. Morocco hadn't won AFCON in fifty years and hadn't even reached a final in more than twenty. I thought he would just hit it hard», he said. Saïss insists he does not believe the Real Madrid player made the attempt lightly. «At this level, nobody misses on purpose», he stressed. Still, he acknowledged the weight of that decision: «He could have been the hero, but he wanted to be the superhero». Despite the disappointment, Saïss hopes the moment will serve as a lesson for both the player and the team. A new chapter could soon begin, with the expected announcement of the first squad list by Morocco's new head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi.
