Former Morocco captain Romain Saiss opened up about his feelings following the decisive Panenka penalty miss by Ibrahim Diaz in the Africa Cup of Nations final during a recent episode of the “ColInterview” podcast on YouTube.
Saiss described the moment as a turning point: “He could have been the hero, but he wanted to be the super-hero. Do you understand? He attempted a Panenka, and it was awkward, especially with Mandi standing still to save it.”
Reflecting on his immediate reaction, Saiss recalled: “What I felt? I said to myself: He didn’t really do that… I held my head in my hands. You can miss a penalty in football, happens with Hakimi or Ziyech, but this was the AFCON final. This is part of the game; you try and you learn.”
He described the moment as shocking: “I couldn’t believe it. I smile now, but back then I couldn’t. It was the last moment, fifty years without winning AFCON, over twenty years without reaching the final… everything could have ended in joy and celebration.”
Saiss continued: “I wonder, was he aware of all the consequences? From that moment until today, I feel empty. I wasn’t angry, didn’t cry, didn’t go out to relieve myself… it was shock, like living a nightmare.”
Commenting on Diaz’s perspective, Saiss added: “It seems he did it intentionally, but one cannot deliberately miss at this level. He could have been the hero, but wanted to be the super-hero. That slightly bothered me because it overshadowed his achievements.”
He concluded with a positive message: “I wish him the best. The national team’s interest is first for me, even after my retirement. I hope this experience is a lesson for him in the future.”
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