Senegal vs Morocco: How Lions of Teranga Can Shock the Hosts in AFCON Final

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Cydias Aujard

image Senegal vs Morocco: How Lions of Teranga Can Shock the Hosts in AFCON Final
Morocco is already preparing to lift the 2025 AFCON Title on home soil. But Senegal, or the Lions of Teranga as fans call them, might just extend the Atlas Lions' 50-year wait in Rabat. Although the hosts have cruised through this tournament with relative ease, Senegal now represents their toughest tournament challenge over the past year.

Senegal AFCON Final Appearance Reasserts African Football Dominance

By making it to the 2025 AFCON, Senegal has now reached three of the last four tournament finals. They narrowly lost to Algeria in 2019, claimed the cup over Egypt in 2021, and are looking for their second against Morocco in 2025.

But it's not the history Morocco needs to be worried about. It's the way the Lions of Teranga are playing. Unlike Nigeria, which effectively forfeited the middle of the pitch in favour of counters and long balls, Senegal is comfortable in all areas, even dominating in each category.

Morocco has conceded the fewest goals (1) and kept the most clean sheets (5), in line with our football predictions. However, Senegal conceded just one goal more (2) and kept one clean sheet fewer (4). Defensively, Senegal has arguably been just as good as the Atlas Lions. Now the real difference comes in offence, where the Lions of Teranga edge Morocco significantly.

Senegal has scored 12 goals (second-most), which is three more than Morocco’s nine. Yet, the most important metric to point out is Senegal's 63.0% possession per game (second-highest). Up until now, Morocco's opponents have forfeited most of the ball, allowing the hosts to dictate the play and tempo of the game.

But Senegal is different. They've held over 60% possession in all but one game, keeping Egypt and Mali to 37% and 35% possession, respectively. And Senegal isn't just comfortable, but also highly effective, leading to the nation recording the second-highest big chances and shots per game (with the highest on target).

We're in for a clash between the best offence and best defence, only that Senegal is just as good at defending. Check out our Senegal vs Morocco prediction before you bet!

Morocco's Game Plan: Stopping Mane and Unleashing Diaz

For Morocco, the script is going to be more or less the same. After all, they've mostly played the same way since they last lost an official senior team game in 2024.

Their last defeat was in the RO16 in this very tournament to South Africa in 2024. Ever since, Morocco has been the leading light in African football, boasting the highest ranking (11th) and setting a new international world record for the longest winning streak (16).

It may be true that Senegal is the toughest team they've faced since that last defeat. But that wouldn't alter a widely successful game plan for the Atlas Lions too much.

With Bono in goal and Hakimi and Mazraoui at the wing-back positions, Morocco can effectively match the Mane-Ndiaye wing threat in pace while neutralising many of their shots that do make it through. And Morocco does get the ball, they'll be utilising the right flank of Hakimi and Diaz to the fullest. Diaz is leading the polls with the highest odds of winning the 2025 AFCON player of the tournament on the top betting sites.

And that's understandable considering that the Real Madrid man has scored five of Morocco's nine goals so far. Senegal may edge in goals and even number of star attacking forwards, but on the offence, Morocco's competency is unmatched, and they have a two-year unbeaten record with the most wins in a row to underscore that.