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Morocco Host Senegal in Africa Cup of Nations Final as Brahim Díaz Leads Title Bid

Regragui identifies Díaz as Morocco’s catalyst under the weight of a home final.

Overview

  • Morocco face Senegal in Rabat on Sunday seeking a first Africa Cup title since 1976.
  • Brahim Díaz enters the final as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals in six matches, having scored in each of Morocco’s first five games before a 0-0 semifinal that was won on penalties.
  • Coach Walid Regragui highlights Díaz’s mentality and playmaking as essential and stresses managing emotions for a team carrying host-nation expectations.
  • Díaz, born in Spain to a Moroccan father, switched allegiance in 2023 after being courted by Regragui and federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, and has become a focal point for the Atlas Lions.
  • Despite limited club minutes under former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, Díaz is set to return to Madrid with Álvaro Arbeloa now in charge, a shift his coach says he will meet by competing for his place.