The final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will be staged at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The decisive match will see hosts Morocco take on Senegal on Sunday, 18 January, with kick-off scheduled for 20h00 local time, which is 19h00 GMT.
Senegal arrive at the final having played all their matches in Tangier, while Morocco will be contesting their seventh game of the tournament in Rabat. The venue has effectively become a fortress for the host nation as they continue their push for continental glory in front of their home supporters.
This final marks Senegal’s fourth appearance at this stage of the competition and their first since 2021. Morocco, meanwhile, will be contesting their second AFCON final and their first since 2004. When Morocco won their only AFCON title in 1976, the tournament did not feature a single final match, as the winner was decided through a round-robin format.
Despite their long footballing history, this will be the first time Morocco and Senegal face each other in an AFCON match, although it will be their 32nd meeting overall. Senegal have recorded six victories against Morocco’s 18, with seven matches ending in draws. The two nations have crossed paths regularly in World Cup and AFCON qualifiers, as well as other competitions, including the African Nations Championship.
Their most recent encounter came at the 2024 CHAN on 26 August 2025, where Morocco eliminated defending champions Senegal in the semi-finals. That match ended 1-1 before Morocco secured a 5-3 victory on penalties on their way to reclaiming the title they had lost to Senegal at the 2022 CHAN. Overall, Morocco have won four of the last six meetings between the sides, with Senegal’s only win in that period coming in a friendly in May 2012.
Morocco’s journey to this final also places them firmly in the history books, as they become the 15th host nation to reach an AFCON final. Recent history favours the hosts, with the last three nations to reach the final on home soil all going on to win the tournament. Tunisia achieved the feat in 2004, Egypt followed in 2006, and Côte d’Ivoire most recently lifted the trophy in 2023.
Host nations have won the AFCON title 12 times, with 11 of those victories coming in finals. While hosts have lost the final on three occasions, all those defeats came after extra time, highlighting the intense pressure and drama that often surrounds these matches.
As Rabat prepares to host the 2025 AFCON final, the clash between Morocco and Senegal brings together history, rivalry and continental pride.
