Brahim Díaz’s audacious late Panenka was saved by Édouard Mendy, costing Morocco in the 2026 AFCON final as Senegal won 1-0 after extra time. The article reviews five other high-profile Panenka failures (Agüero, Welbeck, Lineker, Chicharito, Enzo Le Fée). Betting note: punters should be wary of Panenka attempts under pressure — favour reliable takers, consider backing goalkeepers with strong penalty-read stats, or markets for low-scoring outcomes and goalkeeper saves.
Brahim Díaz Panenka Saved as Senegal Clinches 2026 AFCON
Brahim Díaz, the Real Madrid forward, attempted a bold Panenka late in normal time of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final but saw his soft chip comfortably held by Édouard Mendy. With the score locked at 0-0 in front of roughly 60,000 fans, the miss proved decisive: Senegal went on to win 1-0 in extra time. The miss underlined the fine margins between audacity and costly error on football’s biggest stages.
Moment-by-moment: The Decisive Kick
Why the Panenka failed
Díaz’s attempt relied on the keeper committing early, but Mendy stayed composed and read the chip. In high-pressure finals, goalkeepers with keen penalty instincts can turn a cheeky attempt into a match-defining save. The miss shifted momentum and left Morocco unable to find an equaliser before extra time.
Five Notorious Panenka Misfires
Sergio Agüero — Club penalty, public frustration
Agüero’s Panenka once floated straight to a goalkeeper, prompting visible fury from his manager. The striker later apologised for the poor decision, illustrating how even elite finishers can mistime a cheeky chip.
Danny Welbeck — Bar and regret
Welbeck tried a Panenka after earlier slotting a reliable penalty; the chip struck the bar and cost his side potential three points. The miss highlighted the gamble of switching technique mid-game.
Gary Lineker — Historic chance wasted
In a match with a shot at national scoring history on the line, Lineker’s Panenka attempt fell short. The miss denied him the chance to equal a long-standing record and became a cautionary tale about spectacle over pragmatism.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández — Late drama turned sour
Chicharito, moments from a dramatic stoppage-time winner, chipped a penalty that landed in the keeper’s hands. The miss erased a potential headline-making hat-trick and emphasised how high stakes amplify the risk of unconventional penalties.
Enzo Le Fée — Recent tame chip
Enzo Le Fée’s soft Panenka into the middle was anticipated and claimed by the goalkeeper, continuing a recent run of high-profile misses and reminding players that keepers often expect the chip in certain match contexts.
Betting Implications: How This Affects Punters
What punters should consider
- Avoid backing players prone to Panenka attempts for crucial spot-kicks in tight matches; prefer consistent, conventional takers.
- Consider betting on goalkeepers with strong penalty-read or save rates, especially in finals or knockout ties where inventive attempts may occur.
- Markets to target: goalkeeper save props, under 2.5 goals in tightly contested finals, or match odds favouring teams with disciplined defensive records.
- In-play tip: if a known Panenka taker is awarded a late penalty, consider small, cautious stakes on a saved penalty or low-scoring outcome.
Conclusion
Panenkas capture headlines when they succeed and court lasting ridicule when they fail. Díaz’s miss in the AFCON final is the latest reminder that audacity can backfire — and for bettors the lesson is clear: factor player tendencies and goalkeeper profiles into penalty and match markets.
Football’s most iconic Panenka penalties 🤩
Morocco star Brahim Diaz blew the chance to win the 2026 Afcon final against Senegal at the end of normal time after a dreadful Panenka attempt, writes Aman Mahmood, but he is far from the first culprit
The Independent
