Morocco's Brahim Díaz is the Africa Cup star thriving away from Real Madrid's turmoil

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Real Madrid can look forward to getting what will look like a new signing when a reinvigorated Brahim Díaz returns from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Brahim has emerged as the star of the tournament, where the Morocco No. 10 is the top-scorer with five so far.

The 26-year-old Brahim may yet lead the host team to victory in Sunday’s final against Senegal, when the Atlas Lions will hope to end a 50-year wait for just their second Africa Cup title.

Few could have foreseen the impact he has had for Morocco given how little he's featured for Real Madrid this season.

Brahim started only four games in La Liga and the Champions League under former Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, who gave him 14 substitute appearances.

He has started all six for Morocco and scored in almost all of them. Brahim managed the remarkable feat of scoring in each of Morocco’s first five games. It was only in the semifinal against Nigeria – when nobody scored before the penalty shootout – that Brahim’s scoring streak ended.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui suggested Brahim’s mentality has changed since he joined the squad.

“It has changed a lot since he came. He came, of course, with a lot of desire, with many people waiting for him to make a big difference,” Regragui said on Saturday. “Now he understands that he is one more (player) in the team. Of course, he is an X-factor for us, someone who can score in every play, but what is more important for us is how he runs for the team and how he drives this offensive style we want.”

Brahim has eight shots on target, more than any other Moroccan player at the tournament. If he scores again on Sunday he will join Ahmed Faras as Morocco’s joint-top scorer at an Africa Cup with six. Faras, the 1975 African footballer of the year, is the country’s all-time top scorer with 36.

“He didn’t score in the last game but he was one of the happiest,” Regragui said. “He’s proud to play for Morocco.”

Regragui remembered approaching Brahim with the president of the Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, in January 2023 and convincing the young forward to play for Morocco. Spanish-born Brahim has a Moroccan father and Spanish mother. Brahim played for Spain youth teams and once for the senior team.

“The truth is I didn’t lie to him when I told him that here he will have people who will love him for life and that if he dies for the team, for the fans, they will never forget him, and that he can win titles too, he can play in the World Cup,” Regragui said. “That’s what’s happening to him now and I’m very happy.”

The coach said he was happy with Brahim’s attitude and happy that he will return to Madrid having had much more playing time than he likely would have received in the Spanish capital.

Brahim will be returning to a different environment after Madrid fired Alonso, replacing him with his former teammate Álvaro Arbeloa.

“I’m sure he’s going to compete to win his place,” Regragui said of Brahim. “But now he has to finish the job tomorrow, as that’s what’s important for him and for us.”

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Díaz celebrates after the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Cameroon and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Díaz celebrates after the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Cameroon and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Díaz celebrates after the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Cameroon and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Díaz celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Cameroon and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Díaz celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Cameroon and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.

Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.

Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.

Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.

Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.

Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."

Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.

Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."

Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”

Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.

The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.

Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)