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Mendy became a hero when he successfully saved Diaz's penalty kick. |
In an interview with beIN Sports , the former Chelsea goalkeeper dismissed speculation that Diaz deliberately missed the penalty. "Of course not. Let's be serious. Did anyone really think that, with only a minute left and the whole country waiting for this title for 50 years, we could possibly negotiate something? He wanted to score, and I simply did my job well," Mendy asserted.
The controversial penalty stemmed from a situation deemed highly sensitive, causing the Senegalese players to react violently and even leave the field. However, according to Mendy, the matter was resolved internally.
"What's said in the dressing room stays there. What matters is that we go to glory together, with self-respect and pride. That's why we've been rewarded," he shared.
Speaking about Diaz's missed Panenka penalty, Mendy revealed a simple but effective tactic. "He tried. I tried to stand firm for as long as possible, and luck was on our side. That penalty helped Senegal keep going. Before each penalty, I would talk to Sadio Mane. We shared the same goal: to bring the trophy home," the 33-year-old goalkeeper added.
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Diaz missed the penalty, costing Morocco their chance to win the championship. |
Speaking about the tense final minutes, Mendy maintained a measured attitude. "We don't want to talk while the emotions are still running high. The important thing is that football won. We knew we were playing in an unfavorable environment, against a team that had been waiting for a title for half a century. But Senegal knew how to respond. Today, the cup belongs to us."
Conversely, Morocco ended the tournament with mixed feelings. Brahim Diaz was in tears as he received the Golden Boot award from FIFA President Gianni Infantino. What should have been the pinnacle of his career is now inevitably haunted by his fateful Panenka penalty in the historic final.
In the early hours of January 19th, Senegal became the CAN 2025 champions after a 1-0 victory over Morocco thanks to the only goal scored in extra time by Pape Gueye.
Source: https://znews.vn/su-that-phia-sau-qua-panenka-hong-cua-diaz-post1620914.html
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