Morocco will look to harness the energy of a passionate home crowd as they face Senegal in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final, with the hosts closing in on a first continental title in half a century.
Playing on home soil, Morocco entered the tournament as favourites, having established themselves as Africa’s leading national side since becoming the first team from the continent to reach the World Cup semi-finals at Qatar 2022. Ranked 11th in the world and captained by African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi, the Atlas Lions arrived with lofty expectations and a long unbeaten run stretching back to their elimination at the 2024 AFCON.
Those expectations have brought intense scrutiny. This tournament, the first to begin in one year and conclude in another, has seen Morocco play all their matches at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Early on, sections of the home support voiced their frustration, but successive victories have gradually won over the crowd. A commanding quarter-final win over Cameroon and a dramatic penalty shoot-out triumph against Nigeria in the semi-finals have set the stage for a showpiece final in front of nearly 70,000 fans.
Head coach Walid Regragui acknowledged both the challenge and the opportunity of Sunday’s final, describing it as a defining moment for Moroccan football. Having led his side past Mali, Cameroon and Nigeria, Regragui believes Morocco have earned their place, while conceding that winning silverware is the next step in cementing their status as a major football nation. The French-born coach, who featured in Morocco’s last AFCON final appearance in 2004, is keen to go one better this time.
Despite his achievements, Regragui has faced sustained criticism from an expectant public. He has remained defiant, stressing that past accomplishments and belief in his work remain intact, regardless of external pressure. For him, the overriding significance is that Morocco have reached the final and now stand on the brink of history.
Standing in their way is a formidable Senegal side. Ranked second in Africa, the Lions of Teranga are contesting their third AFCON final in four tournaments. After losing the 2019 final to Algeria, they claimed their first title in 2022 by defeating Egypt on penalties, and have once again shown resilience by reaching the final after a semi-final victory over Egypt, sealed by a decisive Sadio Mane strike.
Senegal bring vast experience, though much of their core is ageing. Mane, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, captain Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye are all in their mid-thirties. Mane has already indicated that this final will be his last appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations, underlining his determination to end his international tournament career on a high by delivering the trophy to Dakar.
However, Senegal have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the final, with Koulibaly suspended and unavailable. His absence weakens a defence that has otherwise been outstanding, with Morocco and Senegal conceding just three goals between them throughout the tournament.
With two disciplined, well-organised sides and so much at stake, the final is unlikely to be free-flowing or high-scoring. Instead, it promises tension, tactical battles and fine margins. Ultimately, the decisive factor may be how Morocco cope with the weight of expectation and whether the roar of the home crowd can push the Atlas Lions to a long-awaited continental crown.
