Millions of football fans around the world, especially in Africa, will be glued to their screens this Sunday evening as the stadium hosts the highly anticipated clash between Morocco and Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. This encounter is considered a dream final, bringing together two of the strongest teams ranked both continentally and globally, promising a thrilling and competitive football spectacle.
Historical context and struggle for continental leadership
This match is of paramount historical importance to both sides; the Moroccan national team (the Atlas Lions) enters the match with its sights set on breaking the jinx that has haunted it for decades, as it seeks to achieve its second continental title in its history after the sole triumph in 1976. Morocco bases its ambition on the tremendous leap it has made in recent years, especially after the historic achievement in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which raised the bar of expectations and made the Moroccan fans not satisfied with anything less than gold.
On the other side, Senegal (the Lions of Teranga) enter the match with the mentality of champions, seeking to reaffirm their dominance of African football in recent years. After years of trying, Senegal's golden generation finally tasted gold, and today they aspire to add a second star and solidify their position as a formidable footballing force, benefiting from their technical stability and the presence of a selection of professional stars playing for top European clubs.
A tactical conflict between two different schools of thought
Technically, the match is expected to be a fierce tactical battle between two contrasting schools of thought. The Moroccan national team will aim to impose its usual style, based on organized possession, slow build-up to attacks, and relying on the individual skills of its players in the final third to unlock defenses. Throughout the tournament, the Atlas Lions have demonstrated high tactical discipline and defensive solidity, which were key to their reaching the final.
In contrast, the Senegalese team relies on immense physical strength, rapid attacking transitions, and precise crosses. The Lions of Teranga are characterized by their clinical finishing and ability to capitalize on half-chances, a quality clearly demonstrated on their path to the final.
Match date and broadcast channels
The final match kicks off at 10:00 PM Saudi Arabia time (9:00 PM Cairo time). The match will be broadcast exclusively on beIN Sports , the exclusive broadcaster of the tournament in the Middle East and North Africa, with extensive media coverage befitting the magnitude of the event.
Expected lineup for the Moroccan national team
- Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou.
- Defense line: Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Adam Masina, Noussair Mazraoui.
- Midfield: Nael El Aynaoui, Bilal El Khannous, Ismail Sibari.
- Attack line: Ibrahim Diaz, Ayoub El Kaabi, Abdel Samad Zalzouli.
The expected lineup for the Senegal national team
- Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy.
- Defense line: Krepin Diatta, Mamadou Sarr, Moussa Niakhaté, Malick Diouf.
- Midfield: Idrissa Djana Gueye, Pape Gueye, Lamine Kamara.
- Forwards: Sadio Mane, Nicholas Jackson, Elman Ndiaye.
