Hosts Morocco and Senegal Clash for Supremacy, History, and a Lion’s Share of Glory
RABAT, Morocco, January 18th-The beautiful game (Jogo Bonito)reaches its grand crescendo on African soil tonight as the 68,095-capacity seater Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat prepares to host a titanic, history-laden battle for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 crown.
In a fitting finale, the continent’s spotlight falls on an epic duel between the host nation, Morocco’s Atlas Lions, and Senegal’s Teranga Lions. Only one pride will leave the arena crowned kings, their roar silencing a continent and claiming the much-coveted $10 million trophy.
The winner’s prize money represents an increase of 43% compared to the previous editions of $5 million in 2021 and $7 million in 2023. The third playoff winner, Nigeria, will take home $2.5 million after seeing off Egypt in a pulsating penalty shootout on Saturday, 17th January 2026.
Since the inaugural tournament in Khartoum back in 1957, where Egypt reigned supreme over Sudan, Morocco has scripted a historic run, becoming the 15th host nation to storm into the final. Their quest, however, is laced with the weight of history.
It has been a staggering 49 years, 10 months, and five days, (18,208 sunsets) since they last lifted this trophy, a 1-0 victory over Guinea, sealing their sole title in 1976. The omens, however, sparkle for the hosts: the last three nations to reach the final on home soil; Tunisia (2004), Egypt (2006), and Cote d’Ivoire (2023), all triumphed.
This is a clash of nations familiar with the highest stakes, yet their final narratives differ. Morocco contests its second AFCON final, having finished runners-up in 2004. Senegal steps onto this ultimate stage for the fourth time, their journey marked by the heartbreak of a 1-0 loss to Algeria in 2019 and the ecstasy of a penalty-shootout victory over Egypt (4-2) in 2021 after a goalless stalemate.
In the 32 previous fiery encounters between these giants, Morocco holds the bragging rights with 18 wins to Senegal’s six, alongside seven draws.
The touchlines will see a fascinating battle of local tactical brains. Senegal’s Pape Thiaw, steering the ship into his second CAF final after masterminding a CHAN title win in Algeria (2022), aims to become the second Senegalese coach to deliver the AFCON trophy, following the legendary Bruno Metsu (2002) and Aliou Cisse (2021).
His opposite, Morocco’s Walid Regragui stands on the brink of immortality. A victory would etch his name alongside Romanian Virgil Mardarescu (1976) as the only coaches to guide the Atlas Lions to continental glory, and see him become the second Moroccan tactician, after Ezzaki Badou (2004 runner-up), to lead them to a final.
This final marks the ninth showdown in an AFCON final between West and North African powerhouses. The historical ledger is balanced on a knife’s edge with West Africa having triumphed on four occasions (Ghana 1965 & 1982, Nigeria 1980, Senegal 2021), while North Africa has answered with four titles of its own (Algeria 1990, Egypt 2006 & 2010, Algeria 2019).
Senegal’s Teranga Lions have marched to Rabat with authority, winning five of their six matches. After navigating two wins against Botswana and Benin, and drawing DR Congo in the group stage, they delivered knockout blows to Sudan, Mali, and a statement victory over Egypt with a solitary goal in the semis.
Their defensive fortitude has been paramount, keeping four clean sheets so far. Another would match their tournament best of five, achieved in 2002, 2019, and 2021. Their only defeat in the last 22 AFCON matches (W16, D5) was that painful 2019 final loss.
Between the posts, Edouard Mendy has been a colossus, his 10th AFCON clean sheet arriving against Egypt. However, defensive stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly faces another final heartbreak, suspended for the showpiece just as he was in 2019. The front attack will look to legendary marksman Sadio Mane of Al Nasr FC.
His 78th-minute semi-final low fierce strike against Egypt was his 11th AFCON goal, placing him as the ninth player among the tournament’s all-time elite to have scored 10 or more goals, after Cameroon’Samuel Eto’o (18), Laurent Pokou (14), Rashidi Yekini (13), Hassan El-Shazly (12), Patrick M’Boma (11), Mohamed Salah (11), Hossam Hassan (11) and Didier Drogba (11).
Morocco’s Atlas Lions have been an immovable object with their path to the final is underlined by a remarkable defensive record of 477 minutes without conceding a goal. Spearheading this is goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who has already set a national record with five clean sheets this edition. One more would see him become the first goalkeeper in AFCON history to keep six in a single tournament. Ahead of him, captain Achraf Hakimi provides relentless thrust from defence.
In attack, all eyes are on the mercurial Brahim Diaz. Having found the net in each of Morocco’s first five games, a goal tonight would see him draw level with Ahmed Faras as Morocco’s joint-top AFCON scorer (6 goals) and emulate Faras’s feat of scoring in six matches at a single tournament.
For Morocco, victory would complete an unprecedented continental double, making them the first nation since Senegal (AFCON 2021, CHAN 2022) to hold the CHAN and AFCON titles simultaneously. It would also exorcise the ghosts of 1976 and cement their status as a modern African football powerhouse.
For Senegal, winning back-to-back AFCON titles would solidify a Teranga dynasty and mean both of their continental crowns were delivered by Senegalese coaches, a point of immense national pride.
As the sun sets on Rabat, a continent full of enthusiastic football lovers holds its breath. Two lions, one throne. The stage is set for 90 minutes (and perhaps more) of pure Jogo Bonito to crown the new king of African football, before the baton passes eastward to the historic 2027 co-hosts: Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Let the final roar begin.
romondi99@theeyeswatchmedia.co.ke
