Kylian Mbappé moved quickly to underline the human cost of Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations final defeat, offering public support to Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz after Senegal’s extra-time victory in the 2025 showpiece.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the Real Madrid forward addressed the emotional fallout from a final that slipped away from the host nation in agonising fashion.
Mbappé said his thoughts were with the Moroccan players affected most deeply by the outcome, singling out Hakimi and Diaz, teammates he sees daily at club level.
His comments focused in particular on Brahim Diaz, who had been one of Morocco’s standout performers throughout the tournament but saw his campaign overshadowed by a missed penalty in the final.
Mbappé acknowledged the weight of expectation carried by the winger and the difficulty of processing such a moment, given the scale of the occasion and the hopes invested in the team by the Moroccan public.
The France captain stressed that setbacks of this magnitude extend far beyond the pitch.
He warned against reducing the situation to a purely sporting failure, insisting instead on the importance of recognising the psychological strain placed on players in decisive matches watched by millions.
In his view, the immediate priority must be to protect the individual, not to judge the moment.
Mbappé explained that Real Madrid would play a central role in helping Diaz navigate the aftermath of the defeat.
He said the club’s responsibility was to ensure that the player felt supported and understood, highlighting the collective nature of elite football environments when dealing with disappointment.
According to Mbappé, restoring confidence and emotional balance would be key before any focus returned fully to performance.
Drawing on his own experiences at the highest level, Mbappé noted that even the most established players are not immune to moments that leave a lasting mark.
He suggested that shared understanding within the squad, coupled with patience, could help Diaz regain composure and move forward.
While the AFCON final will be remembered in Morocco as a painful missed opportunity, Mbappé’s intervention served as a reminder of the pressures faced by players on football’s biggest stages.
His message reinforced the idea that recovery, both mental and emotional, is an essential part of life at the elite level, and that solidarity within the dressing room can be as decisive as any tactical adjustment.
