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Rabat – Morocco has high hopes for Brahim Diaz. The 25-year-old Real Madrid star is one of the five players to watch at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) believes Diaz has what it takes to lead the Moroccan national team to glory. “With the support of the Moroccan fans, Diaz may be the driving force that Morocco needs to win the cup on its home soil,” CAF said this week.
Diaz chose to represent Morocco instead of Spain and is set to play in his first-ever Africa Cup of Nations finals. His performance during the qualifiers was nothing short of impressive, finishing as the top scorer with seven goals in just six matches – with a hat-trick against Lesotho.
CAF also listed the names of other stars to watch during the tournament, including Nigerian Ademola Lookman, Cameroonian Carlos Baliba, and South African Ronwen Williams.
Read also: CAF Nominates Six Stadiums for Morocco’s AFCON 2025
Morocco hopes to secure its first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1976. And since then, the Atlas Lions have come close but never quite managed to repeat that success – notably in the 2004 AFCON when they reached the final but lost 2-1 to hosts Tunisia.
Last March, Brahim Diaz spoke out about his decision to represent Morocco instead of Spain, in an interview on Universo Valdano, a Spanish football show.
The Real Madrid star said he never pushed for a spot on Spain’s national team. “I never demanded anything to play for Spain,” Diaz said. “I believe in showing my worth on the field.”
His grandmother, Dolores Bueno Bravo, shared with Spanish media that Brahim struggled with the decision. “Spain called him, but he’s going to play for Morocco,” she said. “His father and grandmother are from Morocco, and he found it hard to choose.”
After weighing his options, Diaz decided that Morocco’s warm support and the country’s plans for him were exactly what he needed for his international career. “My decision is final,” he said. “I follow my heart, and Morocco feels like the right fit.”
When asked if he had made his choice out of frustration with Spain’s lack of interest, Diaz firmly stated that there was no need to look back. “I’ve made my decision, and I’m grateful for all the support,” he said. “There’s no need to second-guess it.”
