The eyes of football fans across Africa and the world will be on the Moroccan capital, Rabat, next Sunday, as the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium hosts the highly anticipated final of the Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal enters this crucial match relying heavily on its extensive experience in major tournaments to overcome the challenge of the host nation, the "Atlas Lions," in what promises to be a thrilling and closely contested encounter.
Senegalese dominance and years of experience
There is no doubt that the Senegalese national team has established itself as one of the strongest teams on the continent over the last decade. The "Lions of Teranga" are ranked second in Africa and nineteenth globally in the FIFA rankings, just behind Morocco, who are eleventh globally and first in Africa. These figures reflect the high level of competition between the two sides, but Senegal is distinguished by its consistency, having reached its third final in the last four editions of the tournament.
Despite the painful memories of losing the 2019 final in Egypt to Algeria and the early exit on penalties in the previous edition against Ivory Coast, winning the 2021 title in Cameroon instilled a winning mentality in this generation. The team relies on a solid backbone comprised of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, defender Kalidou Koulibaly, midfielder Idrissa Gueye, and star player Sadio Mané – experienced players who have been together since 2019.
Tactical system and composure under pressure
Technically, Senegal shares with Morocco a reliance on a solid defensive foundation; Senegal has only conceded two goals, making it the second-best defense after Morocco, which has conceded just one. However, what distinguishes Senegal in this tournament is its remarkable composure and ability to handle the ups and downs of matches. This was evident in the round of 16 when they fell behind to Sudan but rallied to score three goals, and again in the semi-final against Egypt when they maintained pressure despite their captain's injury, ultimately securing victory thanks to Sadio Mane's brilliance.
Offensively, Senegal has the second strongest attack with 12 goals, behind Nigeria, which confirms that the team has diverse solutions to reach the goal.
Young blood compensates for the significant absences
With the team suffering significant absences, most notably captain Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Habib Diarra both suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, coach Pape Thiaw's tactical acumen in utilizing the substitutes became crucial. Young talents proved their worth, such as Ibrahim Mbaye (17 years old) and Lamine Camara (21 years old), who was decisive in the semi-final and contributed to the winning goal.
Ground challenge and public
The biggest challenge for Sadio Mane and his teammates will be facing the "12th man." Playing in Rabat in front of passionate Moroccan fans who never stop cheering and are known for applying immense pressure on opponents, as they did against Nigeria in the semi-final, will demand remarkable composure. And while there will be a Senegalese community supporting their team, taming the ambitions of an entire nation dreaming of the title on home soil will be the toughest test of Senegal's experience in this historic final.
