Historic AFCON Final: Morocco vs. Senegal End a 30-Year Wait for Africa’s Crown

Overview

Morocco and Senegal are facing off in the Africa Cup of Nations final for the first time, ending a three-decade wait for a meeting in the decider. The match is set for Sunday evening at the Prince Abdullah Stadium in Rabat, where both teams eliminated heavyweight opponents in the semifinals — Nigeria and Egypt, respectively.

Remarkably, this final marks the first-ever AFCON final involving Senegal and Morocco against each other, making it the first final between two teams meeting in the final for the first time since 1996 when South Africa defeated Tunisia. The title, then as now, carried the weight of continental pride and history.

Even though the teams met in last year's African Nations Championship, which is restricted to locally-based players, their only recent clash in full national-team competition was a 3-1 friendly in October 2020, when the Atlas Lions prevailed with goals from Slim Amallah, Youssef En-Nesyri, and Youssef El Arabi.

Both nations dream of adding a second star to their crest — Morocco (1976) and Senegal (2021) — a historical chase that heightens the significance of the final. The trophy would crown one of Africa's most consistent programs and cap a dramatic campaign for both sides.

As fans anticipate a tense and entertaining finale, the question remains: who will seize the moment and etch their name into AFCON lore? And if you’re undecided, remember: even the ball has a favorite bounce in a match this big.

Punchlines: If this final were a movie, the poster would already be in the cinema, but the ending still has us on the edge of our seats. And yes, the trophy will probably need a mint tea break after all that drama.