Forward Brahim Diaz could be the catalyst for Morocco in AFCON 2025 final against Senegal  

Morocco and Senegal are set for a high-stake final at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, with victory crucial to annexing the covetous trophy in the North African country on Sunday, January 18, 2026.

The match, scheduled to take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams seeking for the ultimate title. Morocco are chasing their second AFCON title just as Senegal, who last won the trophy in 2021 in Cameroon.

And Morocco coach Walid Regragui is tipping Brahim Diaz to be the catalyst for his outfit in their bid to secure the AFCON title for the first time in half a century on home soil.

Diaz, who plies his trade for Real Madrid in Spain is the top scorer at the tournament with five goals in six matches but it has been his dribbling play and constant probing of opposing defences that have seen him emerge as one of the best players over the last month of competition.

“His mentality is strong, he plays with a lot of desire,” Regragui said of Diaz in Saturday’s pre-match press conference.

“He knows he has to make a difference. The most important thing is how he orchestrates the attacking phases.”

Morocco, one of the standout teams at the tournament made a strong start to the continental showpiece on home soil, defeating Comoros and Zambia, while sharing the spoils with Mali in the group stage. Their outstanding performance earned them the top spot, setting up a tie against Tanzania in the last 16, where Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz powered the Atlas Lions to the quarterfinals with his strike.

In the quarterfinals, Walid Regragui and his charges triumphed over Cameroon with a 2-0 victory to secure a place in the semi-finals, where the North African side defeated Nigeria 4-2 on penalties after a pulsating goalless draw in both regular and extra-time.

This marks their third AFCON final appearance after 1976 and 2004. Morocco won the title in their first final appearance before losing second attempt in 2004. The upcoming clash against Senegal is their third final appearance.

Meanwhile, victory for Morocco would see host nations win back-to-back AFCON titles for the first time since 2004 and 2006, when Tunisia and Egypt were champions.