The stage is set for a highly charged encounter as Morocco and Senegal prepare to face off in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat will host the showdown at 19:00GMT this Sunday, with both teams eager to claim continental glory.
Although this marks the first time Morocco and Senegal will meet in an AFCON final, the rivalry between the two sides carries a deep “revenge” element that adds extra intensity to the match.
Senegal famously eliminated Morocco during the 2002 World Cup qualifiers with a decisive goal from El Hadji Diouf, dashing the Atlas Lions’ hopes of reaching the tournament.
Conversely, Morocco ousted Senegal from the semi-finals of the 2024 African Nations Championship on penalties, a result that still resonates with the Senegalese side.
Pape Thiaw, the current coach of Senegal’s national team, was at the helm of the Senegalese local squad during that 2024 African Nations Championship clash, adding a personal layer of stakes to Sunday’s encounter. Both teams arrive in Rabat determined to settle old scores while pursuing the ultimate prize.
Statistically, Senegal will be appearing in their fourth AFCON final, the first since 2021, while Morocco is making only their second final appearance and their first since 2004. Morocco’s only AFCON title came in 1976, during a tournament structured as a single round-robin rather than a traditional final.
Overall, the two sides have faced each other 31 times before, with Morocco winning 18 matches, Senegal six, and seven ending in draws. Their most recent meeting was in the 2024 African Nations Championship semi-finals in Uganda, where Morocco triumphed on penalties.
Sunday’s match will not only be about lifting the trophy but also about settling a long-standing continental rivalry with revenge on the line.
