The official squad is dominated by players from the tournament’s top three nations, reflecting their impact throughout the month-long competition.

AFCON 2025 Best XI

Goalkeeper:

• Yassine Bounou (Morocco) – Awarded Best Goalkeeper, providing a safe pair of hands throughout the tournament.

Defenders:

• Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) – Right-back, part of Morocco’s defensive backbone.
• Calvin Bassey (Nigeria) – Central defender, praised for his physicality and consistency.
• Moussa Niakhaté (Senegal) – Central defender, forming a solid partnership with Bassey.
• Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) – Left-back, complementing Morocco’s defensive unit.

Midfielders:

• Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal) – Anchoring the midfield with defensive discipline.
• Pape Gueye (Senegal) – Defensive midfield powerhouse and scorer of the winning goal in the final.
• Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) – Winger, recognised for his creativity and assist tally.

Forwards:

• Brahim Díaz (Morocco) – Tournament Golden Boot winner with five goals.
• Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) – Striking force and one of the tournament’s most lethal forwards.
• Sadio Mané (Senegal) – Captain and Player of the Tournament, leading Senegal’s attack with authority.

Nigeria had three players in the final XI: Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Calvin Bassey, highlighting their impressive performances despite finishing third.

The selection underscores the dominance of Senegal and Morocco, with both teams providing the bulk of the defensive and midfield structures, while the attack was shared among the top performers of the tournament.

This Best XI celebrates the players who made the biggest impact on AFCON 2025, combining talent, consistency, and moments of magic on the biggest stage in African football.

Excellence, position by position. Meet the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 best XI. 🌟@Midea pic.twitter.com/DP3r3AzMiF

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 21, 2026

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Morocco forward Brahim Diaz has issued an emotional apology after his missed penalty proved decisive in his country’s 1-0 defeat to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday, admitting his “soul hurts” over the moment that denied Morocco a long-awaited continental title.

The dramatic incident came deep into stoppage time in Rabat, when Morocco were awarded a penalty in the 98th minute after Diaz was brought down by defender El Hadji Malick Diouf. The decision, confirmed following a Video Assistant Referee review, sparked chaotic scenes both on the pitch and in the stands.

Senegal players briefly walked off in protest, encouraged by head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, and it took more than 14 minutes for order to be restored.

When play eventually resumed, Diaz stepped up and attempted a Panenka-style penalty, but the weak chip was comfortably gathered by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

The miss turned out to be a pivotal moment, as the match went into extra time before Pape Gueye struck the winning goal to hand Senegal the trophy.

Taking responsibility for the outcome, Diaz wrote on X:
“Yesterday I failed, and I take full responsibility and apologise with all my heart.

“It will be hard for me to recover because this wound does not heal easily, but I will try. Not for myself, but for all who believed in me and for all who suffered with me.

“I will keep going until someday I can give back all this love and be a pride for my Moroccan people.”

The 26-year-old, who plays for Real Madrid, was born in Malaga and previously represented Spain before switching allegiance to Morocco in 2024.

Despite the painful finale, Diaz enjoyed an outstanding tournament, finishing as the top scorer at AFCON 2025 after finding the net in each of Morocco’s first five matches.

Morocco’s quest for a first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1976 will now stretch on, with their 50-year wait set to continue until at least the 2027 tournament.

Me duele el alma. Soñé con este título gracias a todo el amor que me habéis dado, a cada mensaje, a cada muestra de apoyo que me hizo sentir que no estaba solo. Luché con todo lo que tenía, con el corazón por encima de todo.

Ayer fallé y asumo toda la responsabilidad y me… pic.twitter.com/W7oBP6crru

— Brahim (@Brahim) January 19, 2026

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From ruthless finishers to clever creators, the numbers so far tell the story of who has truly stamped their authority on the tournament.

At the top of the goal charts sits Morocco’s Brahim Díaz, who has been in devastating form throughout the group stage. With five goals in five matches, the attacker has consistently delivered when it matters most, making him the current leading scorer of the competition.

Close behind is Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, whose presence in the box has once again proven decisive. The Super Eagles striker has found the net four times in five games, continuing his reputation as one of Africa’s most reliable goal scorers on the big stage.

Nigeria also boasts another strong contender in Ademola Lookman, who has contributed three goals from five appearances. He shares this tally with Lassine Sinayoko (Mali), Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco), Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), all of whom have delivered crucial goals for their nations.

Perhaps the most eye-catching efficiency belongs to Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian captain has scored three goals in just two matches, underlining his impact whenever he steps onto the pitch.

Highest goal scorers at AFCON 2025

• Brahim Díaz (Morocco) – 5 goals (5 matches)
• Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) – 4 goals (5 matches)
• Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) – 3 goals (5 matches)
• Lassine Sinayoko (Mali) – 3 goals (5 matches)
• Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco) – 3 goals (5 matches)
• Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – 3 goals (5 matches)
• Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) – 3 goals (2 matches)
• Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) – 3 goals (5 matches)

Beyond the goals, creativity has been just as influential. Ademola Lookman has stood out not only as a scorer but also as the tournament’s leading provider, recording four assists to underline his all-round attacking influence for Nigeria.

Senegal’s talisman Sadio Mané follows closely with three assists, while Nigeria continues to dominate the assist charts through Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze, who have both contributed two assists each. Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco) and Anis Hadj-Moussa (Algeria) complete the list, also registering two assists apiece.

Players with the highest assists at AFCON 2025

• Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) – 4 assists
• Sadio Mané (Senegal) – 3 assists
• Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) – 2 assists
• Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria) – 2 assists
• Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco) – 2 assists
• Anis Hadj-Moussa (Algeria) – 2 assists

With qualification spots still on the line and knockout football fast approaching, these goal scorers and playmakers are expected to play even bigger roles.

As AFCON 2025 enters its most critical phase, their boots and their vision could be the difference between an early exit and a march toward continental glory.

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Real Madrid have made the announcement of Brahim Diaz signed a new four-year contract upon his return to the club.

Initially paying £15.5 million to sign Diaz from Manchester City in January 2019, Los Blancos waited as the young Spanish player struggled to make an impact before sending him on a one-year loan to AC Milan in the summer of 2020.

Later, Diaz would sign a new two-year loan agreement and return to Milan, where he established himself as a crucial member of the team that won the Serie A title in 2021–2022. He has since returned to Spain to resume playing for Real Madrid’s first team.

After his comeback, Diaz signed a new contract that will keep him with Los Blancos through the summer of 2027. On Tuesday, June 13, the 23-year-old will once again be introduced to the media.

During his first 18 months on the books, Diaz made 21 appearances for Real Madrid, contributing with two goals and three assists while primarily sitting on the bench or being left off the squad.

Diaz had the chance to revive his career thanks to his loan to Milan, and he leaves Italy as the Serie A champion after making no less than 124 appearances for the Rossoneri.

The most fruitful year of Diaz’s senior career was 2022–2023. The Spaniard scored six goals and provided seven assists while playing primarily as an attacking midfielder for Milan, with sporadic appearances on the left wing.

The hole caused by the exits of Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, and Mariano Diaz will be somewhat filled by Diaz’s return to Real Madrid.

Comunicado Oficial: Brahim Díaz.#RealMadrid | #BrahimIsBack

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 10, 2023

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