Morocco will aim to end a 50-year wait for a second Africa Cup of Nations title when they face Senegal in the final of the 2025 tournament on Sunday.
Beyond silverware, the Atlas Lions are also seeking a fitting reward for years of heavy investment in football infrastructure, with the final offering a chance to crown that progress with continental glory.
The showdown, scheduled for 19:00 GMT in Rabat, brings together Africa’s two highest-ranked teams. Morocco sit 11th in the FIFA world rankings, eight places above Senegal’s Teranga Lions.
“We have been waiting for this trophy for 50 years,” Morocco defender Romain Saiss told the BBC World Service. “It’s been a long time for everyone in the country. It’s the dream of all Moroccans.”
Morocco enter the final with the tournament’s strongest defence, having kept five clean sheets. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has conceded just once, from the penalty spot. However, they face a formidable Senegal attack that has scored 12 goals on the road to the final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Senegal are also chasing a second AFCON crown, having lifted their first title at the 2021 tournament in Cameroon.
In addition to continental bragging rights, the champions will receive $10 million in prize money, an increase of $3 million compared to the previous edition.
The final also guarantees that the tournament will once again be won under African coaching leadership. Either Morocco’s Walid Regragui or Senegal’s Pape Thiaw will join a recent list of African title-winning coaches, following Djamel Belmadi (Algeria, 2019), Aliou Cissé (Senegal, 2021), and Emerse Faé (Ivory Coast, 2023).
