RABAT: All eyes will be on Rabat tonight as Senegal and Morocco face off in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with both sides aiming to lift African football’s biggest prize.
The highly anticipated showdown kicks off at 7pm UK time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which is expected to be packed with nearly 70,000 fans as the host nation seeks to end a decades-long wait for continental glory.
Senegal booked their place in the final after a dramatic semi-final victory over Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah. The West African giants will be contesting their fourth Afcon final, having previously won the tournament in 2021 and finished runners-up in 2002 and 2019.
Morocco’s journey to the final has been equally gripping. The Atlas Lions edged past Nigeria on penalties in a tense semi-final encounter, keeping alive hopes of claiming only their second Afcon title, their last coming in 1976.
Tonight’s clash is historic, as Senegal and Morocco have never met in an Afcon final before, adding extra intrigue to the contest.
Morocco enters the final full of confidence, riding a record-breaking 25-match unbeaten run and buoyed by their historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup, the best-ever performance by an African team at the tournament.
The final will feature some of Africa’s biggest football stars. For Morocco, Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain is expected to play a key role, while Brahim Díaz of Real Madrid has been one of the tournament’s standout performers, scoring in five matches so far. Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United has also been ever-present for the hosts.
Senegal boasts a squad packed with Premier League experience, including Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace), Habib Diarra (Sunderland) and El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham United).
Former Chelsea stars Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly are also part of the squad, alongside striker Nicolas Jackson, currently on loan at Bayern Munich.
Once again, much of the spotlight will fall on Sadio Mané, Senegal’s talisman, as he looks to inspire his country to another Afcon triumph.
With history, pride and continental supremacy at stake, tonight’s final promises to be a thrilling climax to the Africa Cup of Nations.
