AFCON 2025: Senegal’s unbeaten run powers final dream

Senegal’s current 16-game unbeaten streak at AFCON is the longest active run in the tournament and has only ever been bettered by Egypt’s record of 24 matches without defeat between 2004 and 2017.

This sequence has transformed the Lions of Teranga from contenders into the standard-setters of the competition, giving them a psychological edge over every opponent they face.

This is the fourth AFCON edition in which Senegal have won at least four matches, a pattern that has almost always ended with them playing on the final day. In 2002 and 2019, such runs took them to the final as runners-up, while in 2021 a similar surge culminated in their first African title, reinforcing the sense that this year’s streak has once again pushed them to the final on merit.

Their latest triumph over Mali confirmed not only a place in the semifinals but also the feeling that Senegal now know how to navigate tight knockout games without losing their nerve. Each step in Morocco has added another layer of confidence, turning what began as a promising campaign into a statement that they are built for the pressure of a long tournament.

All that momentum now converges on the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat, with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m. local time at the city’s main showpiece stadium, where the title will be decided under the lights.

With Senegal’s record streak on the line and a trophy at stake, the whole world will be watching as Africa’s champions-in-waiting try to turn an unforgettable run into another historic night.