HP Terbaru 2023 – Hosts Morocco set for epic battle with 2021 champions Senegal

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By Neel Shelat

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Senegal vs. Morocco

The Lions of Teranga’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations meeting with their Atlasian brothers is indeed an occasion fit for kings. The two sides have almost simultaneously risen in stature over recent years, with success in different major tournaments propelling them to the continent’s top two spots in the FIFA rankings. They both enter this game in incredible form, as the hosts are unbeaten in 23 matches overall while their visitors have not tasted defeat in 27 competitive fixtures! 

An epic showdown is in the offing at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the shiny new venue where AFCON 2025 both began and will end. Over 60,000 expectant fans filled the stands on the opening night against Comoros, and a similar number is expected to file in on the moonless Sunday night for what they hope is a dream ending to the tournament.

Indeed, Morocco are being given a very slight edge in the predictions, but there is very little in it. The Atlas Lions can make a strong case for having been the better team this tournament, with just one goal conceded (a penalty at that) in six matches and an impressive win over a formidable Nigerian side in the semi-final.

Senegal, on the other hand. can point to their superior record in recent AFCONs. Besides lifting the coveted title in 2021, they also reached the final in 2019, meaning they have been among the continent’s top two in three of the last four championships.

In contrast, Morocco are entering their first final since their loss to 2004 hosts Tunisia. Their only previous title came all the way back in 1976, when the tournament was decided by two rounds of group stages. Although their last match against Guinea effectively was a decider, they have yet to emerge victorious after a true AFCON final.

The Atlas Lions have felt the pressure of delivering on home soil throughout this tournament, so the role of the crowd cannot be understated. However, the bigger battle will certainly take place on the pitch, where there should be many points of intrigue.

The tactical battle

Senegal and Morocco have both been commanding in their tournament campaigns so far. They have let in just three goals between them in 12 matches, while the Lions of Teranga have scored three more goals than Morocco’s nine.

Both sides like to establish control over their matches, but their approaches have slight differences. Senegal have kept a higher proportion of possession as the experienced duo of Idrissa Gana Gueye and Pape Gueye have provided a lot of on-ball security and retention. Morocco are not frivolous with the ball either, but they have shown some more willingness to drop into a solid mid block.

The left wing from Senegal’s perspective should be the attacking hotspot. Pape Thiaw’s side can threaten down that flank with Malick Diouf making forward runs to support Sadio Mané, while striker Nicholas Jackson can drift across and support them as well. Morocco have also increasingly focused their attacks on that side, as Brahim Díaz is supported by the advancing Achraf Hakimi.

Senegal suffer two suspension setbacks

Senegal were allowed to almost entirely dictate proceedings in their semi-final against Egypt, but a couple of costly moments will leave them without two starters for the final. Captain and key centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly picked up his second yellow card of the knockouts early on in the match, though he soon went off injured anyway. More frustratingly, midfielder Habib Diarra also got a yellow card suspension after seemingly being booked for dissent before half-time. The pair were replaced by youngsters Mamadou Sarr and Lamine Camara, who may well both be in line to start the final.

Morocco managed to entirely stay out of the referee’s book in their semi-final, so the only absentee for them will be the injured Azzedine Ounahi.

Key players

Mané’s fantastic strike in the semi-final took him to a record-setting tally of 20 AFCON goal involvements over the course of his career. Having already led the Lions of Teranga to AFCON glory in 2022, the Al Nassr forward has little left to prove, but has still been on song with two goals and three assists this time around.

Díaz’s scoring streak might have been snapped in his last game, but he too has already done enough to ensure that his campaign will be treasured for a long time to come. Unlike Mané, though, he is still towards the beginning of his international career; this is the first time he is representing Morocco at a major stage. So, he still needs one more telling contribution to go from being unforgettable to legendary.

On the opposite side to the aforementioned pair, both Iliman Ndiaye and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli can offer a different dynamic to their own team’s attacks. They have only contributed to one goal each so far in the tournament, but they will never find a better occasion to add to their tallies.

In the absence of his more senior partner, Moussa Niakhaté will need to rise to the occasion and produce a commanding display as the leader of the Senegalese back line. Morocco have some strong defenders of their own, but they will need Neil El Aynaoui to continue doing some excellent screening in front of them if they are to keep a sixth clean sheet at this tournament.

With such fine margins at play, both teams will have to be prepared for a penalty shoot-out. Eduoard Mendy and Yassine Bounou both have fine pedigrees in such situations, so either of them could get the chance to be the hero in the late hours of Sunday night.

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(Images via IMAGO)

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