Senegal v Morocco: Confirmed line-ups for AFCON 2025 final as Mane and Ndiaye start

Morocco will hope to claim their first Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 50 years this evening when they take on Senegal in the final in Rabat.

It would be another enormous achievement for Walid Regragui’s side, who became the first team from the continent to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup in Qatar just over three years ago.

Morocco are the tournament hosts and also possess the leading goalscorer in Real Madrid wideman Brahim Diaz.

“It’s now or never,” said Regragui at yesterday’s press conference. “Naturally, there is more pressure on us because we are playing at home. It will be important to control our emotions and stay calm.”

Senegal will have added motivation after questioning the security arrangements in the build-up to the game.

The Lions of Teranga arrived in Rabat yesterday by train and were dismayed to see there was no welcome party to greet them at the city’s Agdal Station.

“This was a competition that no one used to watch, but now it has an elevated status, we shouldn’t destroy that,” said coach Pape Thiaw.

“We need to organise the competition well, and what happened is not this. It’s significant that we leave a team like Senegal to arrive with the general public from Tanger.

“Anything could have happened when we’re mixing with people like this, should there be someone who’s not well-intentioned, for example, this should never happen, particularly between two countries who are meant to be brothers.”

SENEGAL TEAM NEWS

Senegal have two key players missing with captain Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Habib Diarra suspended.

Senegal starting XI: E. Mendy, K. Diatta, M. Sarr, M. Niakhate, E. H. M. Diouf, Lamine Camara, I. Gueye, Gueye, S. Mane, Jackson, Ndiaye.

MOROCCO

Morocco starting XI: Bono, A. Hakimi, N. Aguerd, A. Masina, N. Mazraoui, N. El Aynaoui, B. Díaz, B. E. Khannouss, I. Saibari, A. Ezzalzouli, A. E. Kaabi.

How to watch Senegal v Morocco: TV and online streams

Kick-off on Sunday is at 7pm GMT. In the UK, live AFCON 2025 coverage is on Channel 4’s E4 and All 4. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.

Online live streaming is available on a vast range of devices through Channel 4’s website and app and the beIN Sports app.

Stats for Senegal v Morocco

• Morocco have not lost a competitive game on home soil since November 2009, a defeat by Cameroon in Fes
• Senegal’s victory four years ago in Cameroon was their first AFCON success
• This is Senegal’s fourth appearance in an AFCON final