The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 reaches its climax today, Sunday, January 18, as Senegal take on hosts Morocco in the final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Kick-off is scheduled for 20h00 local time (19:00GMT), with continental supremacy on the line in what promises to be a historic night for African football.
Senegal arrive in Rabat for their fourth AFCON final and their first since lifting the trophy in 2021. The Teranga Lions have enjoyed an impressive campaign, winning five of their six matches and conceding just twice on their route to the final.
Their only blemish was a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in the group stage, with victories over Botswana, Benin, Sudan, Mali and Egypt underlining their consistency and defensive solidity.
This final marks Senegal’s first appearance against a host nation in an AFCON decider and their third final against a North African opponent, having previously faced Algeria in 2019 and Egypt in 2021.
Morocco, meanwhile, will contest their second AFCON final and their first since 2004, buoyed by home support and a formidable defensive record. The Atlas Lions have conceded only one goal in six matches and have kept five clean sheets at the tournament, the most they have ever managed in a single AFCON edition.
Having played all their matches in Rabat, Morocco will be featuring in their seventh game of the competition, the highest number they have played in any AFCON campaign. A victory would see them lift the continental crown for the first time since 1976, when the tournament was decided in a group format rather than a single final.
Despite a long shared history, this will be the first time Senegal and Morocco meet in an AFCON match. Overall, the sides have faced each other 31 times, with Morocco holding the upper hand with 18 wins to Senegal’s six, alongside seven draws. Recent meetings have also favoured the North Africans, who have won four of the last six encounters, including a penalty shoot-out victory over Senegal in the semi-finals of the 2024 CHAN.
The final also carries significant historical weight. Morocco become the 15th host nation to reach an AFCON final, with the last three hosts to do so all going on to win the tournament.
Hosts have lifted the AFCON trophy 12 times previously, and victory on Sunday would see Morocco extend the trend of host nation success while becoming the first team since Senegal to hold both the CHAN and AFCON titles simultaneously.
From a regional perspective, this is the ninth AFCON final to feature a West African team against a North African opponent, with past meetings evenly split between the two regions. Finals between teams from these regions have often been tightly contested, frequently decided by narrow margins, extra time or penalties, adding to the expectation of another closely fought encounter in Rabat.
With Senegal seeking a second title in four years and Morocco chasing long-awaited glory on home soil, the AFCON 2025 final sets the stage for a compelling showdown between two of Africa’s most disciplined and battle-hardened sides.
Join Africasoccer for the live text coverage of this high-stakes final starting at 16:00GMT.
