AFCON 2025: Senegal vs Morocco: Preview, prediction, team news, and head-to-head

Morocco, playing in their first final since 2004, will take on the 2021 champions, Senegal, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday.

For Senegal, this marks their third final appearance in the last four tournaments. The Lions of Teranga are aiming to secure their second triumph in three years, following their championship-winning 2021 campaign in Cameroon.

Senegal will be confident going into this AFCON final. Pape Thiaw's side has scored in every match en route to the final and boasts one of the tournament's most potent forward lines, led by the talismanic Sadio Mané.

Mané was the difference-maker in the semi-final against Egypt, a rematch of the 2021 final. His 78th-minute strike secured a 1-0 win in an otherwise uneventful match, taking his total goal contributions at the finals since 2017 to 20.

Walid Regragui's Morocco stand just one win away from continental glory.

After a somewhat slow start to the tournament that saw initial fan engagement lag, the Atlas Lions have steadily built momentum, capturing the nation's imagination, particularly during the knockout stages.

Their journey to the final included a tense semi-final victory over Nigeria. After a hard-fought 120 minutes, Morocco emerged victorious in a penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Bono playing a heroic role.

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This will be the first time these nations have ever faced each other at an AFCON final, but Morocco carries recent superiority, having won five of the last six Head-to-Head Matches (L1).

Senegal will be without their captain, Kalidou Koulibaly, who is suspended for the final after picking up a booking against Egypt. The experienced defender, who also missed the 2019 final through suspension, is expected to be replaced by Mamadou Sarr. Midfielder Habib Diarra is also suspended.

For Morocco, midfielder Azzedine Ounahi is expected to remain sidelined with a calf injury that has kept him out of the entire knockout phase. Veteran defender Romain Saiss is also unlikely to feature, having been absent since the opening match.

While Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi has only one goal contribution to his name, his attacking influence from the right-back position remains a crucial part of Morocco's game plan.

Senegal: Mendy; Diatta, Sarr, Niakhate, Diouf; Diarra, I. Gueye, P. Gueye; Ndiaye, Jackson, Mane

Morocco: Bono; Hakimi, Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui; Diaz, El Khannouss, Saibari, Ezzalzouli; El Kaabi

With a rock-solid defense and the backing of a passionate home crowd in Rabat, Morocco has the ideal setup to neutralize Senegal's creative players. It should be a close game, with Morocco prevailing in the end.

Full-time prediction on LiveScore Bet: Senegal 0-1 Morocco

• Morocco to win

• Under 2.5 total goals