Khaberni - Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy came forward to put an end to the rumors that spread after the final of the African Nations Cup 2025, regarding an alleged agreement between Moroccan and Senegalese players to waste the crucial penalty in exchange for Senegal returning to the field after threatening to withdraw.
Mendy made statements broadcast by French channel Canal Plus, commenting on these reports, saying: "Do you think that after waiting for the tournament for fifty years, they would agree with us on this?" He added, referring to the match and the critical moment: "They wanted to score, and I blocked it... God is great."
This statement comes after Ibrahim Diaz wasted a penalty kick at the last moment of the match, which would have given Morocco the chance to win the title on their home soil and amidst their own fans, before the Senegalese team returned to continue and achieve the winning goal in extra time.
Mendy affirmed through his statement that the Senegalese victory was achieved with the true spirit of competition on the field, and that any hypothesis about a "prior agreement" to waste chances is baseless, emphasizing that everything was decided on the field according to the rules of fair play and the spirit of the championship.
