African football will take centre stage on Sunday night in Rabat, where a host nation seeking to end a near five-decade wait for continental glory meets a reigning powerhouse determined to further cement its place among the elite.
The Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah will host the final of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, as Morocco face Senegal in a showdown shaped by pride, pressure and ambition. After a month of compelling football that has showcased the continent’s quality and depth, the tournament now reaches its decisive moment.
Morocco have not lifted the AFCON trophy since their historic triumph in 1976. Nearly 50 years later, the Atlas Lions stand on the brink of ending that long wait, driven by fervent home support and familiarity with their surroundings.
Yet that advantage brings intense expectation.
“The team that naturally has the pressure is Morocco. It’s normal — we’re playing at home,” head coach Walid Regragui said ahead of the final.
“For us, the key factor will be managing emotions. My only fear is not playing freely, putting too much pressure on ourselves and starting to think negatively. This is a football match, a final: you have to play it, you have to enjoy it.”
Morocco’s route to the final has tested both nerve and character. Their semi-final victory over Nigeria, secured via penalties after a goalless draw, highlighted their resilience, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou producing a match-winning performance when the pressure peaked.
Senegal approach the final with the calm assurance of a team accustomed to big occasions. Over the past decade, the Lions of Teranga have built a culture of consistency, marked by deep tournament runs, consecutive finals and silverware achieved through long-term planning.
“Reaching the semi-finals has almost become the minimum for Senegal, and the final a habit,” defender Moussa Niakhaté said.
“We’ve always operated with respect — it’s part of the values instilled in us as Senegalese. At the end, there will be only one winner: either Morocco or us.”
AFCON champions in 2021, Senegal have already surpassed their performance from the previous edition in Côte d’Ivoire, where they exited in the Round of 16. From the opening match in Morocco, they have shown maturity, discipline and hunger, making them formidable opponents for the hosts.
Respect before rivalry
Despite the magnitude of the occasion, both camps have struck a tone of respect rather than rivalry.
“For us, it’s the image of Africa that is at stake,” Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw said.
“We must not spoil it. Playing the host nation is never easy because of the crowd, but on the pitch, it’s 11 against 11.”
Thiaw knows continental success, having guided Senegal to the CHAN title in 2023.
Regragui, meanwhile, acknowledged the quality of his opponents. “Senegal will be there, with or without the crowd. They are strong. Great teams are always there at the end,” he said.
Morocco forward Eliesse Ben Seghir underlined the emotional weight of the final. “When you’re 20 years old and you see senior players crying after qualifying for a final, you understand how important it is — for them and for the country,” he said.
Nigeria secure historic bronze
Ahead of Sunday’s final, Nigeria ensured they would not leave Morocco 2025 empty-handed, extending their unique legacy in AFCON history by defeating Egypt 4–2 on penalties in Saturday’s third-place play-off.
After a tense goalless draw in Casablanca, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as the hero of the shoot-out, sealing Nigeria’s eighth straight victory in a third-place match — a flawless record unmatched in AFCON history.
The win lifted Nigeria’s bronze-medal tally to nine, further underlining their dominance in play-off matches. Egypt, despite their own respectable history at this stage, were unable to break the Super Eagles’ composure.
The result capped a strong Nigerian campaign that ended with silverware after their narrow semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco.
One trophy, two ambitions
As attention now turns back to Rabat, Africa awaits its champion. Both finalists are chasing a second continental crown — Morocco, driven by history and home expectation, and Senegal, powered by sustained excellence and belief.
When the final whistle sounds, only one will prevail.
Road to the Final
Morocco
• Group A: Seven points (wins vs Zambia, Mali; one draw)
• Round of 16: Morocco 1–0 Tanzania
• Quarter-finals: Morocco 2–0 Cameroon
• Semi-finals: Morocco 0–0 Nigeria (won on penalties)
Senegal
• Group D: Seven points (wins vs Botswana, Benin; draw vs DR Congo)
• Round of 16: Senegal 3–1 Sudan
• Quarter-finals: Senegal 1–0 Mali
• Semi-finals: Senegal 1–0 Egypt
Pre-match stat
Senegal will contest their fourth AFCON final and first since 2021, while Morocco reach their second final and first since 2004. Morocco’s only title came in 1976, when the final stage was decided in a round-robin format.
This will be the first AFCON meeting between the two nations but their 32nd encounter overall. Morocco lead the head-to-head with 18 wins to Senegal’s six, alongside seven draws. Their most recent meeting came at the CHAN 2024 semi-final in Uganda, where Morocco advanced on penalties.
