The creator of the now famous Panenka penalty, Antonin Panenka has said the top scorer at the recently concluded 2025 AFCON, Brahim Diaz fluffed the penalty for Morocco in the final against Senegal because of lack of practice.
Diaz, Real Madrid’s midfielder had the chance to win the final in injury-time, but he failed with his ‘Panenka’ effort, which eventually saw Senegal win in extra-time.
Panenka , the creator of that penalty kick technique, in analysing Brahim’s execution in the final said, on El Larguero: “It took me two years,
training every single day, to take that penalty. I watched the Africa Cup of Nations final and I’m convinced that the player, Brahim, hadn’t practiced it as thoroughly as he should have to take it that way.
“The idea came to him in that moment and he tried it. That’s why I think he didn’t score.”
For some inside the game, taking a penalty ‘Panenka-style’ is almost insulting to the opponent.
However, Antonín refutes that argument: “I can’t agree. At that moment, I thought it was the most likely way for me to score. In a European Championship final, you don’t think about mocking the opponent.
“I love football; my intention wasn’t to mock anyone. I thought it was the best way to score a goal,” he added.
