Khaberni - Ibrahim Diaz's Instagram account transformed into an unprecedented arena of interaction following the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, after the number of comments on his last pinned post increased from about 30,000 to nearly 297,000 comments in just 30 minutes.
This sharp rise reflected the magnitude of shock and public outrage after the Moroccan national team's loss of the continental title in one of the most sensitive matches in its recent history.
The wave of comments was directly influenced by Diaz's missed penalty kick at the last minute of the match, a kick that could have brought Morocco back into the game and given them a real chance to compete for the title until the final moments. Missing that chance at such a critical moment completely turned the scenario around, turning the player into a focus of debate and widespread criticism on social media.
The final loss with a 0-1 score was not just a normal downfall, but a painful blow to Morocco’s hopes of winning the Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil and amid its fans, and ending a historical dilemma that had lasted for about 50 years since their last title in 1976. This context gave the missed penalty kick an amplified significance, as it was a rare opportunity to write a new chapter in the history of Moroccan football.
In contrast, the Senegalese national team capitalized on that moment to secure the title for themselves, reinforcing their status as a major force in African football, and adding a second Cup to their collection following their 2021 triumph. Amidst great Senegalese joy and heavy Moroccan sorrow, Ibrahim Diaz remained at the heart of the scene, not just on the field, but also on his digital accounts, where the interaction numbers reflected the pressure accompanying the heroes in major events.
