Morocco and Senegal square off in a heavyweight Africa Cup of Nations final showdown on Sunday, with the host nation hoping a divided public will inspire them to win their first continental title in a generation.
Morocco, the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, and Walid Regragui’s team, were the favorites to win the competition.
Since leaving the last AFCON in Ivory Coast in the last 16 to South Africa, they haven’t lost in two years, and Achraf Hakimi, the current African footballer of the year, is their captain.
All of that implies that Morocco has been under enormous pressure to deliver since the start of this tournament, which has been the first held in Morocco since 1988 and the first AFCON to begin and end in one year.
Morocco have won over their demanding fans as the tournament has progressed, winning all of their matches at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where they were booed by their own supporters during the group stage.
Nearly 70 000 Moroccan fans will throng the stadium in anticipation of their team winning the trophy following their dominating victory over Cameroon in the quarter-finals and nerve-wracking victories over Nigeria in the semi-final on Wednesday.
We “mean” it deserves to compete in the final. Regragui, who has received frequent criticism from the expectant public, said, “We have played top teams like Mali, Cameroon, and Nigeria, and now we will be facing one of the best teams.”
“Eventually, people will come to terms with Morocco’s significant football country.” However, we must win titles in order to advance to the next step, so Sunday’s game is crucial in our history.
Regragui is mindful of the nation’s lackluster performance in the tournament, where they only won once in 1976 in Ethiopia.
The Moroccan team reached the final after losing to Tunisia in 2004 as the country’s top team. He wants to improve this time.
By the time the World Cup begins in June, he is likely to be in charge if he doesn’t.
Regragui remarked, “Even if we had been knocked out in the first round, that would not have prevented me from believing in myself and declaring that I am a good coach.”
“It is impossible for me to forget what I did in the past.” I’m not expecting anything from anyone. I don’t make up my mind that I am the best. Morocco’s participation in the final is what is most crucial.
READ MORE: The Senegalese Hope Morocco Final Will Not Be Mane’s AFCON Goodbye.
Farewell to Mane from AFCON
Senegal, who are Africa’s second-best team in the rankings and have reached the third final in four AFCON games, could not have asked for a tougher opponent than the hosts.
The Lions of Teranga won the title for the first time in Yaounde in 2022 when they defeated Egypt on penalties in Cairo in Cairo in 2019.
After being defeated by Ivory Coast in the final 16 of 2024, they regained their complacency and won the tournament’s final with a Sadio Mane strike that beat Egypt in the final four.
Mane, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, skipper Kalidou Koulibaly, and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye are all between the ages of 33 and 36, making it an ageing and vastly experienced Senegalese side.
Mane, a former Liverpool player, declared that this would be his final Cup of Nations game following the Egypt game.
“I am a soldier of the nation, and I give it my all,” Mane said.
“But for me, that’s not the most crucial thing. Bringing this cup to Dakar is crucial, right?
Senegal will lose to Senegal in the final between two outstanding defenses because of Koulibaly’s suspension. At the tournament, they have each allowed three goals.
Source: Channels TV
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