Brahim Díaz – “This wound will take time to heal”

Brahim Díaz has issued an emotional apology after missing the decisive penalty that could have handed Morocco the Africa Cup of Nations title, using his X (formerly Twitter) account to address the nation and take full responsibility for the heartbreaking moment.

In a deeply personal message shared hours after the final, the Moroccan international admitted that the pain of the defeat has cut deep. “My soul hurts,” he wrote, explaining that he had dreamed of lifting the trophy, driven by the immense love and support he received from fans — every message and every show of encouragement that made him feel he was not alone.

Díaz revealed that he gave everything he had on the pitch, “with my heart above all else,” but did not shy away from the decisive moment that changed the course of the final. “Yesterday, I failed. I take full responsibility and I apologise from the bottom of my heart,” he wrote.

The Real Madrid forward admitted that recovery will not be easy, describing the pain as a wound that will not heal quickly. Still, he promised to keep fighting — not for himself, but for everyone who believed in him and for all those who suffered alongside him.

In the closing lines of his message, Díaz struck a note of determination and hope, vowing to continue working until the day he can repay the love shown to him and become a source of pride for the Moroccan people.