Morocco and Senegal meet in the final of the heavyweight Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, with the hosts hoping a partisan crowd can help them claim a first continental title in half a century.
Walid Regragui’s Morocco was the favorite entering the competition. They were the first ever African side to reach the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup and established themselves as the continent’s leading team in the FIFA rankings.
They are unbeaten in two years since going from the last AFCON in Ivory Coast to South Africa in the last 16, and are captained by the current African Footballer of the Year, Achraf Hakimi.
The host could not have asked for a stronger opponent than Senegal, who are Africa’s second-best team in the rankings and are in their third final in four editions of AFCON.
After losing to Algeria in Cairo in 2019, the Lions of Teranga won the title for the first time in Yaounde in 2022 when they defeated Egypt on penalties.
They were knocked out in the last 16 by Ivory Coast in 2024, but recovered to qualify for the World Cup, reaching the final here with a Sadio Mane strike to beat Egypt in the last four.
It is a hugely experienced Senegalese team, and an aging one too: Mane, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, captain Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye are all between 33 and 36 years old.
Former Liverpool star Mane said after the match in Egypt that the final would be his last Cup of Nations match.
Center back Koulibaly will miss the match due to suspension, a major blow for Senegal in a final between two excellent defenses. They scored three goals together during the tournament.
– AFP
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