Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold was left stunned by his Real Madrid team-mate, Brahim Diaz's missed penalty in the AFCON final
Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold was left stunned by his Real Madrid team-mate, Brahim Diaz's missed penalty in the AFCON final
Trent Alexander-Arnold was left in shock after seeing his Real Madrid team-mate Brahim Diaz miss a stoppage-time penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final. Senegal beat host nation Morocco 1-0 AET, but .
Senegal had seen an Ismaila Sarr strike chalked off by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala in stoppage-time for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi in the build-up.
Moments later, Morocco were awarded a penalty after El Hadji Malick Diouf was adjudged to have fouled Diaz inside the box, with Ndala sent to the VAR monitor. But once the spot-kick was awarded, further controversy was to follow as the match was thrown into chaotic disarray.
Senegal boss Pape Thiaw ushered his team off the pitch, incensed by the decision, prompting a delay of roughly 17 minutes. They eventually returned following encouragement from former forward who had stayed on the pitch throughout.
was watching the action unfold at home alongside his brother, Marcell, who was during the final.
And his reaction was caught on camera after Diaz spurned the opportunity to win Morocco their first AFCON title since 1976 as his tame Panenka effort was easily saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
“Who’s taking it? Hakimi? Hakimi or Brahim?” Alexander-Arnold asked his sibling while still off-screen ahead of the spot-kick being taken.
The former Liverpool vice-captain was then encouraged to appear in the frame after Diaz stepped up to take the spot-kick with both the Real Madrid defender and his brother delighted to see his team-mate step up as they both exclaimed, ‘Brahim!’
“Jump in the frame, man, jump in the frame,” Marcell requested. “Just for the pen!”
Reluctantly appearing on screen, Alexander-Arnold said: “He’s locked in, man. Why’s he been stood there for two minutes?
“Is he going to blow his whistle or what? Nah, nah, nah! What’s going on, man?”
He was then asked by his brother which way he thought Diaz would go, with his answer perhaps a sign of what was about to unfold.
“I actually don’t know,” he said. “Genuinely, I’ve never even seen him take one.”
Alexander-Arnold was then stunned to see Diaz perform a Panenka and swiftly left his chair to avoid his reaction being caught on camera as the strike was saved.
“Oh my god. What’s he doing?” a shocked Marcell said after the penalty was saved. “Why’s he done that? Why’s he thought to do that?”
He would then mute himself multiple times to talk to an off-camera Alexander-Arnold to spare his famous sibling's reaction from being witnessed publicly.
Senegal would go on to win 1-0 as Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye fired home in extra-time.
Diaz would win the Golden Boot, having already scored five goals during the tournament, but he was left in tears following his costly miss.