Brahim Diaz faces Pape Gueye: the reunion in La Liga after the AFCON final

Before kick-off at the Estadio de la Ceramica, Pape Gueye received a tribute from his club and an ovation from the crowd for his continental title and his trophy as the competition’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Brahim Diaz, who started the match on the substitutes’ bench, attended the ceremony a few days after Morocco’s defeat in the final, marked by his missed penalty in stoppage time against goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.

Despite the failure of the Moroccan national team, Brahim Diaz finished as the top scorer of the tournament with five goals, receiving the Golden Boot. The 26-year-old player had apologized to Moroccan supporters on social media the day after the final played on January 19, taking responsibility for the result.

On the pitch, Real Madrid won 2-0 thanks to a brace from striker Kylian Mbappé. Entering the game for the last ten minutes, Brahim Diaz participated in the success of the Merengues, who temporarily take the lead in the Spanish championship. The Merengue club now has a two-point lead over FC Barcelona, who must face Oviedo on Sunday.