Senegal head to Morocco to begin AFCON 2025 campaign preparations

Senegal’s national team has departed Dakar for Morocco today, beginning the final leg of its journey toward the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from 21 December to 18 January.

Head coach Pape Thiaw led his squad through the last stage of preparations on home soil before boarding the flight north.

The Lions concluded their Dakar camp with a training session open to the public at the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium, offering supporters a final opportunity to rally behind the team ahead of the continental tournament.

Fans filled the stands in large numbers, creating an atmosphere of encouragement and expectation as the players completed their drills.

The session allowed the squad to draw energy from the crowd and strengthen its bond with supporters before leaving Senegalese soil.

Later today, the delegation will land in Tangier, where the team will establish its base camp for the duration of the competition.

The coaching staff has scheduled the first training session in Morocco for Saturday, 20 December, with kick-off set for 4pm, as the Lions adjust to their new surroundings and refine their match plans.

The move to Morocco marks a key moment in Senegal’s AFCON 2025 build-up, as attention now shifts fully to competition mode.

With logistics in place and preparations complete, the focus turns to the opening fixtures and the challenges that lie ahead.

The tournament will begin on Sunday, 21 December, when host nation Morocco faces Comoros in the opening match at 7pm.

Senegal will enter the competition two days later, launching its campaign against Botswana on Tuesday, 23 December, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.

As the reigning African champions prepare to defend their status, anticipation continues to grow around the squad’s prospects.

The departure from Dakar signals the end of preparation and the start of the real test, as the Lions aim to translate months of planning into performance on the biggest stage in African football.