The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 reaches its decisive moment on Sunday, January 18, when Senegal and hosts Morocco meet in a heavyweight final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
With contrasting histories, dominant defensive records and continental bragging rights at stake, the stage is set for a finale rich in narrative and significance.
Final setting and tournament backdrop
Sunday’s showpiece will be played in Rabat, where Morocco have effectively made themselves at home throughout the tournament. While Senegal completed their entire AFCON 2025 journey in Tangier, Morocco will be contesting their seventh match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, a familiarity that could prove influential on the night.
For Senegal, this is a return to familiar territory. The Teranga Lions are appearing in their fourth AFCON final and their first since lifting the trophy in 2021. Morocco, meanwhile, are back on the final stage for only the second time in their history, their previous appearance coming in 2004. Their lone continental title dates back to 1976, an edition decided by a round-robin format rather than a single final.
Head-to-head record: Numbers and nuance
Despite their shared history in African football, Senegal and Morocco have never met in an AFCON final. Sunday’s encounter will be their first meeting at the tournament itself and the 32nd clash overall between the two nations.
Across all competitions, Morocco hold a clear advantage. Of the 31 previous meetings, the Atlas Lions have recorded 18 wins, compared to six for Senegal, with seven matches ending level. Recent encounters also lean Morocco’s way, with four wins in the last six meetings, including a penalty shoot-out victory after a 1–1 draw in the semi-finals of the 2024 CHAN.
A rivalry shaped by qualification heartbreak
Beyond the raw statistics, this is a rivalry defined by decisive moments on the continental and global stage. Senegal and Morocco have crossed paths in AFCON qualifiers, World Cup qualifiers, AFCON tournaments and CHAN competitions.
Morocco have twice denied Senegal a place at the FIFA World Cup, edging them out in qualification for the 1970 and 1994 tournaments. Senegal did have their revenge in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, progressing on goal difference, while Morocco’s most recent knockout success came at CHAN 2024, where they eliminated Senegal on penalties.
The weight of hosting an AFCON final
By reaching the final, Morocco become the 15th host nation to do so in AFCON history, and recent trends heavily favour the home side. The last three host nations to reach the final all went on to lift the trophy: Tunisia in 2004, Egypt in 2006 and Côte d’Ivoire in 2023.
The last time a host nation lost an AFCON final was in 2000, when Nigeria were beaten by Cameroon on penalties. History, therefore, suggests that Morocco will carry more than just home support into Sunday’s decider.
Senegal’s numbers: Control, consistency and confidence
Senegal arrive in Rabat with an imposing statistical profile. The reigning champions are unbeaten in their last 17 AFCON matches and have conceded just two goals throughout the current tournament. Four clean sheets underline their defensive discipline, while their attacking output has been equally impressive.
The Teranga Lions have scored 12 goals at AFCON 2025, their highest tally in a single edition. Already five-time winners at this tournament, they could set a new benchmark by recording six victories in one AFCON for the first time in their history.
Morocco’s defensive wall
If Senegal bring balance, Morocco bring resilience. The hosts have built their run to the final on defensive solidity, keeping five clean sheets, the most of any team at the tournament. They have conceded just once, compiling a remarkable 477-minute run without allowing a goal.
Their semi-final victory over Nigeria came via a tense penalty shoot-out, further highlighting their ability to manage high-pressure moments. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has been central to that success, already setting a national record with five clean sheets in a single AFCON campaign.
West Africa vs North Africa: A perfectly poised final
Sunday’s match will be the ninth AFCON final between West African and North African nations. The historical balance could hardly be tighter, with four victories apiece for each region. Recent editions have offered little separation either, as three of the last eight such finals were decided by penalties.
What the AFCON 2025 final means
For Morocco, victory would end a 49-year wait for continental glory and make them the first nation since Senegal to hold both AFCON and CHAN titles at the same time. For Senegal, another triumph would deliver a second AFCON crown, both achieved under Senegalese coaches, and further cement their status as Africa’s most consistent force of the past decade.
With history, rivalry and supremacy all in play, Sunday’s final promises far more than a trophy. It offers a defining chapter in African football.
