The Spanish Connection: LaLiga's African Stars Light Up Morocco
Under the winter rain of Morocco, where the Atlas Mountains meet the Atlantic, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has begun its month-long celebration of African football. And at its heart, wearing the colours of their nations but carrying the technical education of Spanish football, LaLiga's African contingent has made an immediate impression.
Brahim Diaz: A Prophet in His Homeland
For months, the critics had circled. The Real Madrid playmaker, who chose Morocco over Spain in March 2024, arrived at this tournament under a cloud of doubt. His performances at the Bernabéu had been sporadic, his minutes limited, his future uncertain. But in the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, surrounded by 70,000 voices singing his name, Brahim Diaz reminded everyone why he was once considered the most gifted youth product at Manchester City's academy.
His goal against Comoros—the first of the entire tournament—was a study in composure. When Noussair Mazraoui's low cross found him unmarked in the box, Diaz did not snatch at it. He caressed it into the corner with his right foot, the stadium erupting as Morocco finally broke the stubborn resistance of the island nation.
Earlier, he had won a penalty that Soufiane Rahimi failed to convert, and throughout the match, Diaz was the conductor of Morocco's attacking symphony. "I feel at home here," he said afterwards, clutching his Man of the Match award. "I feel the love of the people. I want to make them proud."
The Wider Spanish Influence
Beyond Diaz, LaLiga's fingerprints are visible across the tournament. Real Betis duo Abde Ezzalzouli and Sofyan Amrabat bring their Spanish tactical education to Morocco's midfield, while Villarreal's Ilias Akhomach offers pace and directness on the wing. Girona's Azzedine Ounahi, whose performances at the 2022 World Cup captivated the world, returns to the continental stage with refined technical abilities honed in Spanish football.
For the host nation, who have not won the AFCON since 1976, these LaLiga-trained players represent their greatest hope of ending nearly five decades of waiting. The technical precision, the understanding of space, the ability to control tempo—these are the gifts that Spanish football has bestowed upon them.
Spain's African Academy
There is something poetic about watching African players who have learned their craft in Spain return to their continent to represent their nations. LaLiga has become, in many ways, a finishing school for African talent. The league's emphasis on technical ability, positional play, and tactical discipline has shaped a generation of players who now form the spine of their national teams.
As the tournament progresses through Christmas and into the New Year, these LaLiga stars will carry the weight of expectation. For Brahim Diaz, playing before his home crowd in a Morocco shirt, this AFCON represents something more than silverware. It is a chance to prove that his choice—to represent the land of his parents rather than the country of his birth—was not merely a passport of convenience but a calling of the heart.
If his opening performance is any indication, that heart beats strong indeed.