By

Eniola Olatunji 

 

Real Madrid star Brahim Díaz emerged as the top scorer of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, winning the Golden Boot after netting five goals for host nation Morocco at the 35th edition of the tournament.

 

The 26-year-old attacking midfielder, who played a key role for the Atlas Lions throughout the competition, received the award on Sunday night in Rabat, presented by the FIFA President. Díaz’s goals powered Morocco’s run to the final, where they finished runners-up to Senegal.

 

Senegalese talisman Sadio Mané was named Player of the Tournament, winning the prestigious Golden Ball award. The 33-year-old forward was widely praised for his leadership and influence, particularly in the final, where his intervention helped calm tensions and ensured the match was completed. His performances on and off the pitch underlined his enduring importance to the Teranga Lions.

 

Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, won the Golden Gloves award for Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Bounou produced six outstanding saves in the final and finished the competition with the highest number of clean sheets, conceding no goals in five matches.

 

Despite criticism and allegations of intimidation and officiating bias directed at the host nation during the tournament, Morocco was awarded the Fair Play Trophy. Organizers also received praise for providing world-class facilities, particularly the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, widely described as one of the finest football venues globally.

 

Match officials, including referees and VAR teams, were also honored at the closing ceremony, with the FIFA President attending as a special guest of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

 

On the pitch, Senegal were crowned kings of African football, defeating Morocco in the final to lift the AFCON trophy. Nigeria claimed the bronze medal after beating Egypt, extending their record to nine third-place finishes in the history of the competition.

 

The tournament featured 52 matches and produced 121 goals, with Nigeria finishing as the highest-scoring team on 14 goals. Attendance across the six venues totaled 1,340,022 fans, while billions of viewers followed the action worldwide across broadcasts in 170 countries.

 

Although the host nation for the 2027 AFCON is yet to be confirmed, with East Africa emerging as a strong contender, the memories of the 2025 tournament — especially the electric atmosphere in Rabat’s 69,500-capacity stadium — are expected to endure for years to come.