Morocco may have fallen just short in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final, but the Atlas Lions still had plenty to celebrate as Brahim Díaz and Yassine Bounou claimed the tournament’s top individual honours.
Brahim Díaz was crowned the Puma Golden Boot winner, finishing the tournament as the leading scorer with five goals, and adding to his distinction as top scorer in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers — a rare double that underlined his consistency and importance to the national team.
Playing in front of fervent home support, Díaz scored in five different matches, including Morocco’s opener in a 2–0 win over Comoros, a goal in a 1–1 draw with Mali, a brace against Zambia in the group stage, and strikes in the Round of 16 and quarterfinals against Tanzania and Cameroon, respectively.
By finding the net across multiple consecutive games, Díaz joined an elite list of players in AFCON history to do so in a single tournament, cementing his place among Morocco’s most prolific scorers in continental competition.
“I am very proud of this achievement,” Díaz said. “Scoring consistently in this tournament shows our dedication and the strength of Moroccan football. Even though we didn’t lift the trophy, this is a moment to celebrate our team and our fans.”
Meanwhile, Yassine Bounou was awarded the Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper, capping a stellar campaign in goal for the Atlas Lions. The reigning CAF Goalkeeper of the Year kept five clean sheets in seven matches, the joint-most in the tournament alongside Senegal’s Édouard Mendy, helping Morocco concede just two goals on their run to the final.
Bounou produced a series of crucial saves, including decisive stops in the knockout rounds and a commanding performance in the semi-final that was instrumental in sending Morocco through to the final.
“Despite the final defeat, Bounou’s performances were outstanding throughout the tournament,” a CAF statement said. “His composure, consistency, and leadership in goal were pivotal to Morocco’s deep run.”
Together, Díaz and Bounou’s accolades highlight the individual brilliance of Morocco’s stars, even as the team fell agonisingly short against Senegal in the extra-time final. Their achievements underscore the strength of Moroccan football and leave a lasting legacy from AFCON 2025.