Senegal vs Morocco — AFCON 2025 Final Preview | Kick-off, Key Players & Team News

The AFCON 2025 title will be decided in Rabat on 18 January 2026 as defending champions Senegal meet hosts Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (kick-off 20:00 local / 19:00 GMT). Senegal arrive with the tournament’s most potent attack, while Morocco have conceded just once, setting up a classic attack vs defence final. 

This highly anticipated final pits two of the continent's heavyweights against one another, with history beckoning for both sides. Senegal is appearing in their fourth AFCON final, and their first since their 2021 triumph, while Morocco returns to the ultimate stage for the first time since 2004, aiming to end a 50-year title drought.

The Path to the Final

Both nations have displayed formidable form en route to Rabat. Senegal arrives with a lethal attack, having scored 12 goals in the tournamenttheir highest tally in a single edition. The Teranga Lions have won five of their six matches, with their only blemish being a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in the group stages. They enter the final on the back of three successive knockout victories, a feat they also achieved during their runs to the final in 2019 and 2021.

Morocco, buoyed by a passionate home crowd, has been defensively imperious. The Atlas Lions have conceded just one goal in six matches, a statistic that underscores their resilience. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has been a standout performer, keeping five clean sheets, the most by any Moroccan goalkeeper in a single AFCON edition. A sixth clean sheet on Sunday would see him set a new tournament record.

Key Battles and Team News

Senegal’s attack will be led by talisman Sadio Mané, who continues to rewrite the history books. His goal against Egypt in the semi-finals was his 11th in AFCON history, making him the ninth player to reach double figures in the competition. Mané has been directly involved in 20 goals (11 goals, 9 assists) during his AFCON career and has created a tournament-high 18 chances in this edition.

However, Senegal will have to contend with significant absences in their backline. Captain Kalidou Koulibaly will miss his second AFCON final due to suspension, having previously sat out the 2019 decider. Habib Diarra is also suspended for the match.

For the hosts, offensive hopes rest heavily on Brahim Díaz. The forward was electric in the earlier rounds, scoring in each of Morocco’s first five matches. A goal in the final would see him equal Ahmed Faras as Morocco’s joint top scorer in AFCON history. Defensively, the team has gone 477 minutes without conceding, a streak they will look to extend against Senegal’s potent forward line.

Historical Context and Head-to-Head

While this is the first meeting between the two nations in an AFCON final, they share a rich history. Morocco holds the upper hand in overall head-to-head records, with 18 wins to Senegal’s six across 32 meetings.

History also offers a mixed bag for host nations. Morocco is the 15th host to reach the final, and victory would make them the first host winners since Egypt in 2006. Conversely, the last host nation to lose a final was Nigeria in 2000.

This match marks the ninth final between teams from West and North Africa, a rivalry that is evenly split with four wins apiece in previous encounters. Senegal will be hoping to replicate their 2021 success against North African opposition (Egypt), while Morocco aims to emulate the success of previous hosts like Tunisia and Egypt who lifted the trophy on home soil.

The Managers

The tactical battle on the sidelines features two homegrown coaches seeking to etch their names in folklore. Senegal’s Pape Thiaw is aiming to become the second Senegalese coach to win the title, following Aliou Cissé. Across the dugout, Walid Regragui hopes to join Virgil Mărdărescu (1976) as the only coaches to guide Morocco to AFCON glory.

With Senegal’s relentless attack facing Morocco’s ironclad defense, Sunday’s final promises to be a fitting conclusion to the tournament in Rabat.