Afcon Update: Real Madrid Star Brahim Diaz On The Cusp Of Major Trophy

On Wednesday evening, Real Madrid were embarrassingly knocked out of nan Copa del Rey successful nan information of 16 by Albacete, who are conscionable 1 constituent supra nan relegation area successful nan 2nd tier of Spanish football.

This summed up conscionable really crazy and bad nan past fewer days person been for everyone associated pinch nan club. So, you'd beryllium forgiven for forgetting that 1 different Real Madrid subordinate was successful action connected Wednesday night.

Indeed, Brahim Diaz was successful AFCON action for Morocco, arsenic they faced Nigeria successful nan 2nd semi-final taking spot successful nan capital, Rabat. As hosts, location was a immense anticipation and unit coming into nan game.

Brahim Diaz and Morocco connected a rotation successful AFCON

As nan aged saying goes, if it's not broken, don't hole it. Manager Walid Regragui opted pinch Diaz disconnected nan right-hand broadside onslaught for nan sixth crippled successful a row, aft he had scored location successful each of nan opening 5 games.

After a reasonably cagey opening to nan game, Morocco had nan champion chance of nan crippled conscionable earlier nan half-hour mark. Former Real Madrid defender and academy postgraduate whipped successful a transverse that was met by Diaz, but nan Real Madrid man grounded to person his header.

That proved to beryllium nan only existent chance of value for either broadside successful nan 90 minutes. The hosts had overmuch of nan shot and territory but grounded to create thing clear-cut, and nan crippled headed to other clip aft a stalemate.

During which, nan Real Madrid number 21 began to propulsion up a mates of times, pinch what looked for illustration cramp aft a agelong night. Not agelong into nan 2nd half of other time, nan 26-year-old was withdrawn. Meaning that aft failing to person that close-range header, he had missed retired connected nan opportunity to go nan only subordinate successful AFCON history to people successful six games successful a row.

In nan minutes that remained, neither squad could find a winner, and nan crippled was headed to a punishment shootout to determine who would beryllium nan 2nd squad successful this year's AFCON last and who would title nan third-place play-off.

In nan minutes that remained, neither squad could find a winner, and nan crippled was headed to a punishment shootout to determine who would beryllium nan 2nd squad successful this year's AFCON last and who would title nan third-place play-off.

Then, some teams traded successful penalties earlier Hakimi scored to make it 3-2 to Morocco. This was followed by a 2nd prevention from Atlas Lions keeper Bono, and each they had to do was people to beforehand to nan final.

That they did, pinch a well-taken spot kick, and Morocco's spot successful nan last connected location ungraded was confirmed, cueing jubilant celebrations from nan stadium and nan full state arsenic a whole. Some unthinkable scenes.

So, a chance astatine winning nan country's first AFCON since 1976, and only their 2nd ever. After being nan first African squad to scope nan World Cup semi-finals successful 2022 and co-hosting nan tourney successful 2030, immoderate silverware would beryllium nan cleanable measurement to people a very breathtaking era for Morocco.

In their measurement is Senegal, who won nan tourney 2 editions ago, successful February of 2022 - their first ever. It will beryllium an incredibly reliable game, arsenic Senegal person mislaid conscionable 1 crippled successful 90 minutes since nan 2022 World Cup.

Nevertheless, location will beryllium each chance for Diaz and Morocco pinch nan location crowd down them. The crippled will return spot connected Sunday night, pinch kick-off astatine 20:00 CEST. All nan very champion to nan Real Madrid man and his side, bring it home.

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