17:45 GMT – Penalties remain a real possibility
Nine AFCON finals have been decided on penalties, including Senegal’s triumph over Egypt in 2021. Morocco also come into this final fresh from a shoot-out win over Nigeria in the semi-finals.
17:40 GMT – Coaches’ contrasting paths to the final
Pape Thiaw is leading Senegal into his second CAF final, having also guided them to CHAN glory in 2022. Walid Regragui, meanwhile, is seeking his first AFCON title after already making history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
17:35 GMT – Clean sheets define both campaigns
Morocco have kept five clean sheets and conceded only once in six matches, while Senegal have allowed just two goals in the entire tournament. Defensive organisation has been the foundation of both teams’ runs to the final.
17:30 GMT – Midfield battle expected
Senegal dominated possession in the semi-final against Egypt with over 63 per cent of the ball, while Morocco limited Nigeria to just one shot on target in their semi-final. Control in midfield could be decisive in this final.
The Atlas Lions’ dreams hang on these walls tonight. 👕🇲🇦#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/rKNNrcenXP
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2026
17:20 GMT – Key men in attack
All eyes will be on Sadio Mané, who has 11 AFCON goals and has created more chances than any other player in the tournament. For Morocco, Brahim Díaz could equal Ahmed Faras as the country’s top AFCON scorer with a goal tonight.
17:15 GMT – Senegal chasing consistency at the top
Senegal are appearing in back-to-back AFCON finals and are unbeaten in their last 17 AFCON matches. A win tonight would make them the first team in tournament history to win four successive knockout matches.
17:10 GMT – Pressure on hosts, history on the line
Morocco are aiming to end a 49-year wait for an AFCON crown, last lifting the trophy in 1976. Victory today would also see Walid Regragui become only the second coach to guide the Atlas Lions to continental glory.
Dreams stitched into every jersey. Senegal is ready. 👕🇸🇳#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/U1I79i9vwF
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2026
17:00 GMT – History suggests a tight final
The most common AFCON final scorelines are 1-0 and 0-0, and nine of the last 12 finals have ended with one of those results. Senegal’s last two finals both finished goalless before penalties, while Morocco’s last final in 2004 ended 2-1.
16:55 GMT – Attack vs defense storyline
Senegal have scored in all six of their matches and lead the tournament in shots and shots on target, while Morocco have gone 477 minutes without conceding a goal. Something has to give in what promises to be a tightly contested final.
16:50 GMT – Goalkeepers in the spotlight
Both sides boast elite shot-stoppers. Edouard Mendy has kept four clean sheets so far, while Yassine Bounou has five, the most by any goalkeeper at this AFCON. Another clean sheet for Bounou would set a new tournament record with six in one edition.
16:45 GMT – Key absences for Senegal
Senegal will be without captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who misses the final through suspension, just as he did in the 2019 final. Midfielder Habib Diarra is also suspended, forcing coach Pape Thiaw into defensive and midfield adjustments.
16:40 GMT – Senegal’s remarkable defensive record
The Lions of Teranga have conceded just two goals in the entire tournament and kept four clean sheets. Another shutout today would equal their best ever tally of five clean sheets in a single AFCON edition, achieved in 2002, 2019 and 2021.
16:35 GMT – Hosts chasing a rare milestone
Morocco are bidding to become the fourth host nation to win back-to-back AFCON titles after Tunisia and Egypt (2004 and 2006) and Côte d’Ivoire in 2023. The last host to lose an AFCON final was Nigeria in 2000, also in a penalty shoot-out.
16:30 GMT – Head-to-head favors Morocco
Across 31 previous meetings, Morocco have won 18 times compared to six victories for Senegal, with seven draws. The Atlas Lions have also won four of the last six encounters between the sides, including a penalty shoot-out victory over Senegal at the 2024 CHAN semi-finals.
16:25 GMT – Home advantage for the Atlas Lions
Morocco will be playing their seventh match in Rabat, having spent the entire knockout phase at this venue. Senegal, meanwhile, have played all their matches in Tangier up to now, making this their first appearance in the capital during the tournament.
16:20 GMT – A historic final for both nations
Senegal are appearing in their fourth AFCON final, while Morocco contest only their second and first since 2004. It is also the first AFCON meeting between these two sides, despite this being their 32nd encounter overall across all competitions.
16:15 GMT: Follow our live coverage for real-time updates, key moments, tactical battles, and all the drama as the Atlas Lions and the Lions of Teranga go head-to-head for AFCON supremacy.
A childhood dream. A continental crown.
The trophy shines, ready for its next champion. 🏆#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/td944iqDyw— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2026
With history, pride and continental glory on the line, both sides arrive fully focused on lifting Africa’s most coveted football trophy.
Bright enough to glow gold. 💫
A historic night awaits at Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah.#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/vC7ndrSNB5
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2026
Good evening and welcome to Africasoccer’s live coverage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 final, where Senegal face hosts Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Kick-off is at 19:00 GMT, with both sides aiming to write a new chapter in their AFCON history.
