In a highly anticipated showdown on Sunday, Morocco will finally get the chance to end their 50-year wait for an Africa Cup of Nations title, and it's against Senegal - Mane's side from the 2021 tournament. The Atlas Lions will be hosting the final in their own backyard at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
For the Teranga Lions, a win in this final would mean their second AFCON title under the leadership of two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane. Mane has been instrumental for Senegal throughout the tournament and is looking to cap off his impressive display by winning another Africa Cup crown.
Morocco's team has been riding on the back of midfielder Brahim Diaz, who scored in every one of their five group stage matches. The Atlas Lions have also been solid defensively, conceding just one goal so far in this competition, which was a penalty from Mali’s Lassine Sinayoko in the group stage.
The pressure is on both teams, with Morocco seeking to put an end to a 50-year wait for their second AFCON title and Senegal aiming to bounce back after facing criticism over issues such as inadequate security arrangements and team travel. The latter's players even had to take the train from Tangier to Rabat on Friday and were met by a "clear lack of adequate security measures" upon arrival.
This match is being billed as a duel of lions, with both teams seeking to prove themselves as the best on African soil. For Senegal, it's not just about winning but also about Mane having his moment in glory, having missed out on several major tournaments due to injuries in the past.
Morocco, meanwhile, has been enjoying their home advantage, with vociferous support from the 69,500-capacity crowd in the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. They have been unbeaten in two years and have a strong chance of climbing the FIFA rankings when the next update is issued on Monday.
As the teams gear up for this highly anticipated match, several questions remain unanswered. Will Morocco finally break their 50-year wait to lift another Africa Cup title? Or will Senegal, led by Mane, continue their impressive form to claim their second AFCON crown?
For the Teranga Lions, a win in this final would mean their second AFCON title under the leadership of two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane. Mane has been instrumental for Senegal throughout the tournament and is looking to cap off his impressive display by winning another Africa Cup crown.
Morocco's team has been riding on the back of midfielder Brahim Diaz, who scored in every one of their five group stage matches. The Atlas Lions have also been solid defensively, conceding just one goal so far in this competition, which was a penalty from Mali’s Lassine Sinayoko in the group stage.
The pressure is on both teams, with Morocco seeking to put an end to a 50-year wait for their second AFCON title and Senegal aiming to bounce back after facing criticism over issues such as inadequate security arrangements and team travel. The latter's players even had to take the train from Tangier to Rabat on Friday and were met by a "clear lack of adequate security measures" upon arrival.
This match is being billed as a duel of lions, with both teams seeking to prove themselves as the best on African soil. For Senegal, it's not just about winning but also about Mane having his moment in glory, having missed out on several major tournaments due to injuries in the past.
Morocco, meanwhile, has been enjoying their home advantage, with vociferous support from the 69,500-capacity crowd in the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. They have been unbeaten in two years and have a strong chance of climbing the FIFA rankings when the next update is issued on Monday.
As the teams gear up for this highly anticipated match, several questions remain unanswered. Will Morocco finally break their 50-year wait to lift another Africa Cup title? Or will Senegal, led by Mane, continue their impressive form to claim their second AFCON crown?
! But honestly, it's a bit surprising that Senegal even made it this far. I mean, they got destroyed in the group stage 
and had to take the train from Tangier because of lack of security measures? That's not exactly confidence-inspiring.
, but can they keep that up against a Senegal team with Sadio Mane leading the charge? I'm predicting a close game, but if I had to pick, I'd say Senegal might have an edge. They've got Mane's magic and a team that's been performing well under him.
. If they can shore up their backline, they might just have a chance. But overall, I'm expecting Senegal to come out on top 
.
. And on the other hand, Mane's team is due for some major glory after all the injuries he's had in the past... it'd be sick to see him win that title 
. But you know how it goes, 50 years is a long time to wait for a championship, so Morocco's gotta bring their A-game to finally break this drought 
️. The crowd's gonna be electric, and I'm curious to see how the referee handles any potential controversies...
Morocco's been on a roll 4 like 2 yrs now & deir crowd support is 
deir home crowd's got dem back & I'm pretty sure dey'll be unbeaten 4 life 
whoever wins tho, it'll b an epic match!!! 
. They're just getting lucky with their home crowd support 
and some sloppy defending is gonna be their downfall. Senegal, on the other hand, is looking solid, but I'm still gonna bet against them 
Mane's squad has been through a lot and they might not have it together mentally for this big game. Plus, Morocco's team has actually shown some decent skills in group stage matches 
! Both teams have been on fire 
, but Senegal's offense with Sadio Mane is UNSTOPPABLE 
But if Senegal wins, it'll be an epic moment for Mane and the Teranga Lions too 
sadio mane is just so clutch in big games, i love how he's always speaking out about the team's struggles with security and stuff 
can't believe the excitement around this game!!! Morocco's been waiting for 50 years and it'd mean everything if they win 
Meanwhile, Senegal's got Sadio Mane leading the charge and he's basically unstoppable 
and their fans are gonna go wild with those 69,500-strong crowd cheering them on! 
Whoever wins, it's gonna be an epic game and we get to see two incredible teams battle it out in the final 
Mane's gotta bring his A-game for this one though, he needs that win for both him and his country. The pressure's on! 
What a story.
️. But Senegal's Sadio Mane is not someone you wanna mess with 
. I'm loving the energy in Rabat - 69,500 people are gonna be cheering on Morocco 
. It's gonna be a nail-biter of a match, for sure 
. The fact that Brahim Diaz has been solid for Morocco so far is a big boost, but Mane's team has been on fire 
And what about Mane's man of the match performance – will he rise to the occasion once again? 
️ I also feel for Senegal, having dealt with some issues off the pitch, and it'll be interesting to see how that affects their gameplan. Overall, this is gonna be a real nail-biter! 
. morocco's home crowd is hyped 
or will senegal bring home the title 
As for Morocco's chances, Brahim Diaz has been playin' some sick midfield games and their defense has been solid, so I think they've got a good shot at it... we'll just have to wait and see what happens on Sunday! 
! What do u think tho? Who's gonna take it all home?