The stage is set for a monumental clash in Rabat as host nation Morocco prepares to challenge reigning champions Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final this Sunday. The Atlas Lions aim to harness their formidable home advantage to secure a first continental title in five decades, confronting a Senegalese squad determined to retain their crown.
Morocco enters the championship match bolstered by their status as Africa’s highest-ranked team (11th globally) and their historic semifinal appearance at the 2022 World Cup. Under the leadership of African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi, the team has demonstrated resilience throughout the tournament, overcoming nerve-wracking penalty shootouts and silencing early criticism from their own supporters with commanding performances against powerhouses including Cameroon and Nigeria.
Coach Walid Regragui, who faced persistent scrutiny from expectant fans, emphasized the significance of this final for Morocco’s football legacy: “Eventually people are going to accept that Morocco are actually a major football nation. But to go to the next step we have to win titles, so Sunday’s match is really important in terms of our history.”
Their opponents present a formidable challenge. Senegal, Africa’s second-ranked team, brings extensive experience to their third final in four AFCON editions. The Lions of Teranga feature an accomplished core including Sadio Mané, Édouard Mendy, and Kalidou Koulibaly, though the latter will miss the final due to suspension. Notably, Mané has announced this will mark his final AFC appearance, declaring: “I am a soldier of the nation… The most important thing is to bring this cup to Dakar.”
The final promises a tactical battle between two exceptional defenses that have collectively conceded only three goals throughout the tournament. While a high-scoring spectacle appears unlikely, the match will undoubtedly deliver intense drama as Morocco contends with immense pressure before a capacity crowd of 70,000 at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.