Africa's two highest-ranked nations will compete in Sunday's showpiece final after both Morocco and Senegal advanced through tense semi-finals.
A tournament that has delivered little in shocks or storylines in comparison to previous editions concludes this weekend, after hosts Morocco knocked out Nigeria deep into the Rabat night on Wednesday.
The game succeeded Senegal‘s match with Egypt earlier in the day, as Sadio Mane’s winner sent Mo Salah and his Egyptian teammates packing.
The clash between Morocco and the Super Eagles seemed the more entertaining encounter on an underwhelming day, which provided more caution than quality, with just one goal scored in 210 minutes of football.
Moroccan pressure
Nigeria, who had been one of the few sides genuinely impressing at this AFCON, knew it would be a tough task against a Morocco side roared on by their passionate fans and shrouded in expectation.
Lively winger Brahim Diaz presented the game's first chance, his curling effort from outside the box flashing inches past the far post. The Real Madrid man has already bagged three goals at this tournament.
Nigeria, the only nation to have won all five of their games at the tournament so far, responded with Ademola Lookman’s low drive being palmed away by Morocco keeper Bono.
The hosts rallied before half-time. Achraf Hakimi’s free kick flew narrowly over the bar before Abde Ezzalzouli’s shot was kept out by Stanley Nwabali after neat link-up play with Ismael Saibari. The visitors stood strong, helped by a man-of-the-match display from Fulham defender Calvin Bassey.
Chances after the interval were few and far between, both sides more conservative in finding a way to get to the final, while the sense of penalties felt certain early on.
Nwabali tipped Ezzalzouli’s shot round the post, while Morocco’s desperate claims for a penalty after the ball struck Bassey’s arm were in vain.
Penalty heroics
The best chance in extra time fell to Nayef Aguerd, the Marseille defender running onto Hakimi’s deep corner before heading against the post from a tight angle.
The drama of penalties would decide the finalists. Morocco had surprisingly not played in an AFCON final since 2004. For Nigeria, they were runners-up at the last edition back in 2023.
And it was the hosts who raised the roof in Rabat, winning 4-2 in the shootout to put themselves one game away from a title expected to be delivered by many.
Morocco actually missed the first penalty, Lille forward Hamza Igamane seeing his dragged effort fingertipped wide by Nwabali.
It was the opposition goalkeeper, however, who won the heroics in the end. Bono first saved Fulham’s Samuel Chukwueze’s indecisive penalty, before an unorthodox save kept out Bruno Onyemaechi.
Egypt limp out
Earlier in the day, Senegal put in a commanding performance against a very lacklustre Egypt side, in a somewhat dull encounter in Tangier.
2021 champions Senegal headed into the match as favourites, in the latest chapter of a game often dubbed as 'Mane v Salah.'
The Pharaohs, however, were completely outplayed. Slow, uninspiring and happy to concede possession for most of the game, conjuring up one shot on target and two shots off.
Egypt have a rich history at AFCON in the semi-final stage, winning all their previous seven, dating back to 1984. They had gone on to lift the trophy on four of those occasions.
Nicholas Jackson set the tone early on, winning the ball back from the Egyptian defence before firing the ball high over the bar. The only other chance of note in the first half was Pape Gueye’s deflected shot that was held by Mohamed El Shenawy.
Mane pounces
The West Africans continued to dominate the ball in the second half. Substitute Lamine Camara’s shot from distance was again held by the Egyptian goalkeeper.
The pressure finally paid off with 13 minutes to go. A loose ball outside the box fell to Sadio Mane, the former Southampton and Liverpool star, firing home from out of nowhere, low into the corner. It proved to be the winner, as Egypt barely laid a finger on Senegal in the closing minutes.
The two dominant nations both made it through the final, giving some optimism that we may see a final worthy of the competition.
1 - Sunday's final will be the first ever meeting between Morocco and Senegal at AFCON. Unique.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 14, 2026
🦁 pic.twitter.com/Vo7jINWpeu
Another Senegal final
Despite the impressive infrastructure and the modern stadiums, the tournament has failed to deliver on the pitch in comparison to previous editions. Both semi-finals perfectly eclipsed that theory.
Senegal are used to the occasion; this will be their third final in the last four editions. Morocco less so, 22 years on from their second AFCON final, although they are in familiar territory, roared on by a hostile sea of red.
Despite the attacking prowess from both nations, they have also been helped by their defensive records. The hosts have conceded just one goal so far in six matches, while Senegal have just twice.
The final again takes place in Rabat on Sunday evening.
