The curtain fell on the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations this Sunday, January 18, 2025. While Senegal rejoiced after their victory, Morocco, the host country, was plunged into deep disappointment. Faced with this setback, Kylian Mbappé spoke out to support his two friends and teammates, Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz.

A high-tension final

The tournament ended in a tense atmosphere. Even before kickoff, relations between the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) and the Moroccan organizers were strained, particularly due to security lapses denounced by Pape Thiaw. On the pitch, the tension didn't subside: the refereeing of Congolese official Ndala Ngambo was fiercely contested, making the match difficult for Walid Regragui to control.

The fate of the match hinged on two key moments:

1. The penalty missed by Madrid winger Brahim Diaz.
2. Pape Gueye's winning goal , giving the trophy to the Lions of Teranga (1-0).

Mbappé: "I spent half the night on the phone with Achraf."

Kylian Mbappé, who is very close to Achraf Hakimi , his former teammate at PSG, spoke of the Moroccan captain's distress. The French national team captain shared details of their late-night conversation:

“I spent half the night on the phone with Achraf. I completely understand what he’s feeling because I’ve been through it myself. Between disappointment and anger, it’s a very difficult time, especially knowing how much the Moroccan people were waiting for this title. That’s the harsh reality of football.”

Crucial support for Brahim Diaz

Beyond Hakimi, Mbappé is also worried about Brahim Diaz 's mental state. The Real Madrid winger, who carried high hopes on his shoulders, leaves this final particularly devastated by his missed opportunity in front of goal.

“Regarding Brahim, we’ll have to support him as soon as he returns to Madrid,” Mbappé insisted. “Before talking about athletic performance, we have to think about the man first.” For the French striker, the priority is to prevent his teammate from falling into depression after this sporting setback.