Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has debunked a theory surrounding Brahim Diaz's penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Diaz was involved in the controversial decision as he was the Morocco player pulled down by El Hadji Malick Diouf in the area before the West Ham defender cleared the ball from a corner.
Referee Jean‑Jacques Ndala Ngambo consulted VAR and following a review pitch-side, pointed to the spot thus giving the host nation the chance to win the game and clinch a first AFCON title since 1976.
Diaz, who claimed the AFCON top scorer award, was presented with a golden opportunity to net his sixth goal of the tournament. However, he had to wait an age before being allowed to take the penalty.
This is because extraordinary scenes followed the penalty decision. Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players off the pitch in protest after also seeing his side have a goal ruled out just moments before.
Following a delay of over 20 minutes, as per a plea from Sadio Mane, the Senegal players returned to pitch to face the penalty and the drama continued with Diaz failing to successfully execute a panenka attempt.
The Real Madrid forward ultimately presented Mendy with a simple catch straight down the middle, sending the final into extra-time where Pape Gueye came up with the winning goal to clinch a second AFCON title for Senegal.
There has been a theory on social media that Diaz intentionally missed his penalty, but Mendy has stressed that was not the case at all.
"No, of course not. We have to be serious," the former Chelsea goalkeeper told reporters.
"Do you really think that one minute left and a country that has been waiting 50 years for a title, we can reach an agreement? He wanted to score and I deserve credit for stopping him – that's all.
"What did we say to each other? That's between us.
"We did it together and we came back together, that’s all that matters. We can be proud tonight."
