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Sunday night brought the curtain down on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Unfortunately, Manchester United’s full‑back Noussair Mazraoui was not on the winning side. He and his Moroccan teammates fell short in their bid to end a 50‑year wait for continental glory, suffering a 1‑0 defeat to Senegal in a final marred by controversy.
With AFCON in Morocco now done and dusted, most players are turning their focus back to club football.
AFCON trio back
For United, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo had already returned and impressed massively in the 2-0 derby win.
Mbeumo found the net, while Diallo proved a menace to Manchester City’s defence. He too came close to scoring, only denied by the woodwork after a dazzling solo run.
Diallo’s Ivory Coast AFCON campaign ended in the quarter‑finals, edged out 3‑2 by Egypt.
Mbeumo’s Cameroon also bowed out at the same stage, losing 2‑0 to Mazraoui’s Morocco.
Mazraoui himself will be back this week, with caretaker coach Michael Carrick now able to call upon United’s AFCON trio ahead of a crucial clash with Arsenal.
Amad and Mazraoui honoured in Team of the Season
The Red Devils can take pride in their African stars. Notably, both Diallo and Mazraoui earned places in the WhoScored AFCON Team of the Tournament.
#AFCON2025 Team of the Tournament. 🌍 🌟 pic.twitter.com/NbB5Jhh6gF
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 19, 2026
Diallo lit up the right wing with Ivory Coast, tormenting full‑backs and goalkeepers alike. In just three starts, he delivered three goals and an assist, his pace and directness making him a constant threat.
Mazraoui, meanwhile, started in every one of Morocco’s games. Beginning the tournament at right‑back and finishing at left‑back, his defensive solidity underpinned the Atlas Lions’ impressive run, even if it did not end in glory.
It is fitting to see the United duo recognised among the competition’s finest. The hope now is that they can carry their AFCON brilliance into the Premier League, helping Carrick in his ambitious push to restore United to Champions League football.
Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
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