Brahim Diaz's 'reaction' to Senegal being stripped of AFCON title spotted on Real Madrid bench

Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz appeared to discover that he was now an Africa Cup of Nations winner during the Champions League clash with Manchester City.

On Tuesday night, several of the biggest clubs in Europe clashed in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 ties.

Among those in action were Manchester City and Real Madrid, as the Spanish side secured their spot in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win at the Etihad (5-1 on aggregate).

However, the results of Champions League matches was not the biggest news of the night, as during the games it was revealed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had overturned the AFCON final result, stripping Senegal and naming Morocco the winners.

Diaz, a key player or winger for the Morocco national team, was on Real Madrid's bench at the Etihad when the news broke, and his reaction was priceless.

Of all the Moroccan players, Diaz will be perhaps be the most relieved by the decision after he missed the chance to put his side ahead in the 90+24th minute as his panenka penalty attempt was saved just minutes before Pape Gueye scored Senegal's winning goal.

And it appears that this fact wasn't lost on the 26-year-old as he was seen laughing and raising his fists in celebration as he was told something as he sat on Real Madrid's bench during the Champions League match with City.

Although it is not certain that the news of CAF's decision is what caused Diaz to celebrate, the joking and jovial way in which he reacted would suggest that he was unceremonious way that Morocco were crowned AFCON champions, 58 days after their 1-0 defeat to Senegal.

Despite the fact that Morocco will now presumable receive AFCON winners medals and history will remember them as the champions, football fans will not soon forget the images of Senegal lifting the trophy following the final in January.

READ MORE: Senegal players react after Morocco announced as AFCON winners

🚨💣 Priceless reaction! The first time Brahim Díaz found out Morocco have been awarded the AFCON trophy 😳

The Real Madrid star’s face of pure shocking joy says it all. 🤯🏆 pic.twitter.com/NmuTTMihFk

— Topskills Sports UK (@topskillsportuk) March 18, 2026

The decision to strip Senegal came after Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw after Diaz was judged to have been fouled by defender El Hadji Malick Diouf, handing Morocco the late penalty.

Eventually, after around 16 minutes of waiting, captain Sadio Mane convinced his teammates to return to the pitch, with Edouard Mendy then saving the penalty.

Of course, Senegal went on to win the match, but the CAF ruling overturned the final result, stating that Senegal had forfeited the match when the team left the pitch.