If history is any guide, goals will be scarce when Senegal face hosts Morocco in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
African football’s biggest prize has rarely been decided by attacking fireworks. Instead, AFCON finals are usually shaped by patience, defensive discipline and moments that arrive once — and must be taken.
Sunday’s final fits that mould perfectly.
A final shaped by history
Across 32 previous AFCON finals, the most common scorelines are 1–0 (eight times) and 0–0 (seven times).
Since 2002, nine of the last 12 finals have ended with one of those two scorelines, underlining how tight the decisive match of the tournament usually is.
Both Senegal and Morocco arrive in Rabat fully aware that controlling space matters more than controlling possession.
Senegal: specialists in surviving finals
Senegal’s recent finals history reads like a manual on how to manage pressure.
Their last three AFCON finals produced just one goal in total:
2002: 0–0 (lost on penalties)
2019: lost 1–0
2021: 0–0 (won on penalties)
At AFCON 2025, the Lions of Teranga have continued in the same vein — conceding only two goals in six matches, keeping multiple clean sheets and rarely exposing themselves.
This is a team that does not chase games. It controls them.
Morocco: the ultimate defensive hosts
Morocco’s numbers are just as compelling.
The Atlas Lions have conceded only one goal in the entire tournament and have gone over 470 minutes without conceding.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has already kept five clean sheets, the most by a Moroccan keeper at a single AFCON edition, and could set a new record with another shutout in the final.
Hosts often feel pressure to entertain — Morocco have resisted that temptation.
They defend first, suffer intelligently, and strike when openings appear.
When attack meets restraint
Neither side lacks attacking quality. Senegal have scored 12 goals, Morocco nine.
Yet both teams are at their best when matches slow down, become tense, and drift into moments where a single mistake decides everything.
That makes the final fascinating — and potentially unforgiving.
Set pieces, transitions and penalties may once again decide Africa’s biggest night.
Expect patience, not chaos
Fans hoping for an open shootout may be disappointed.
Those who understand AFCON finals will not.
Everything about Senegal vs Morocco points towards:
A cautious opening
Few clear chances
Long spells of tactical chess
A match decided by one moment — or by nerve from 12 yards
In AFCON finals, defence does not just win matches.
It writes history.
