Morocco’s hopes of matching Algeria’s African unbeaten record ended with their defeat to Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The Atlas Lions, playing in front of a home crowd in Rabat on Sunday, were aiming to secure their second continental title, following their 1976 triumph.
The match remained tightly contested until extra time, when Pape Gueye’s decisive goal handed Senegal a 1-0 victory, delivering their second AFCON title in the last three editions and underscoring their growing dominance on the continent.
Beyond the disappointment of losing the trophy, Morocco’s defeat had broader implications for African football records.
Prior to the final, the Atlas Lions had been on an impressive 32-match unbeaten run.
A victory would have brought them closer to Algeria’s record of 35 consecutive matches without defeat, set between 2019 and 2021, which remains the longest unbeaten streak in African football.
“The defeat freezes Morocco’s unbeaten run at 32 matches,” football analysts noted, “leaving Algeria’s record intact.”
The North African rivals now remain separated by three matches, with Algeria’s streak still standing as the benchmark for continental consistency.
Morocco’s run is now the third longest unbeaten streak in world football, trailing only Italy’s 37-match run and Argentina’s 36-match streak.
Despite the loss, the Atlas Lions’ performance throughout the tournament highlighted their resilience and strength, reaffirming their status as one of Africa’s top teams.
While the final result leaves Morocco just short of making history, it also emphasizes the competitive nature of African football and the emergence of Senegal as a formidable force.
The Atlas Lions will now seek to rebuild and aim for continental glory in future tournaments, with the unbeaten record providing a marker of their recent achievements.
