We reach the end of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations with a stellar final between two of the most successful teams in the continent.
Senegal, who won the 2021 AFCON in early 2022 before reaching the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, have a spine stacked full of stars under the management of Pape Thiaw. They have controlled their opposition throughout, easing into a third final in four AFCON tournaments.
Morocco became the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup at that same tournament in Qatar and Walid Regragui’s Atlas Lions, hosts and pre-tournament favourites, are perhaps even stronger in terms of their personnel than they were a few years ago.
Can Senegal clinch a second African title or will the Moroccans win it for the first time since 1976? AllSportsPeople brings you all the latest tips and odds for the 2026 AFCON final.
Senegal vs. Morocco Prediction: Who Will Win?
We're siding with a narrow win for hosts Morocco and heartbreak for Sadio Mane.
African international football, as we often see at AFCON tournaments, can often be very low-scoring and defined by fine margins played on sub-standard pitches compared to Europe.
Morocco’s pitches have actually been a lot better than usual and yet the semi-finals still only produced one goal with the Moroccans requiring penalties to defeat Nigeria and Senegal edging past Egypt.
A low-scoring encounter is to be expected but, having gone unbeaten for 32 matches (excluding the unofficial African Nations Championship, which they still won) since losing in the round of 16 at the 2023 AFCON in early 2024, it has been Morocco’s destiny to triumph with home advantage!
Score Prediction: Senegal 0-1 Morocco (11/2 with SpreadEx)
Head-to-Head: Senegal vs. Morocco
- The most recent clash between Senegal and Morocco came in the ANC but that aside they most recently faced off in a friendly back in October 2020 when the Moroccans ran out 3-1 winners.
- The two teams haven’t faced each other in a competitive clash since 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification when the two sides shared a goalless draw in Morocco before Senegal won 1-0 in Dhaka, both games being played in 2001.
- Overall, the two nations have faced off against each other on 31 occasions with Morocco winning 18 of those clashes and Senegal coming out on top in seven matches.
Senegal vs. Morocco: Form Guide
Senegal – Last 5 matches (All competitions)
- Senegal 1-0 Egypt (CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Semi-final)
- Mali 0-1 Senegal (CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Quarter-final)
- Senegal 3-1 Sudan (CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Round of 16)
- Benin 0-3 Senegal (CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Group stage)
- Senegal 1-1 Democratic Republic of Congo (CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Group stage)
Morocco – Last 5 matches (All competitions)
- Nigeria 0-0 Morocco [AET 0-0 PENS 2-4] (CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Semi-final)
- Cameroon 0-2 Morocco (CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Quarter-final)
- Morocco 1-0 Tanzania (CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Round of 16)
- Zambia 0-3 Morocco (CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Group stage)
- Morocco 1-1 Mali (CAF Africa Cup of Nations: Group stage)
Senegal vs. Morocco Betting Tips
Morocco have kept five clean sheets in six matches thus far. As was the case in their World Cup run in Qatar, they have a lot of talent in the final third but are extremely difficult to play and score against.
Senegal have four clean sheets in their six matches and have conceded more than one goal in a game on just one occasion in their last ten matches, a friendly against Brazil.
The expectation is for a low-scoring encounter and backing BTTS – No (41/50 with Virgin Bet) would make a lot of sense for a final that is expected to be a very tense affair.
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Senegal vs. Morocco Team News
Senegal Team News
- Kalidou Koulibaly was booked in the semi-final and was set to miss the final through suspension but then had to be forced off through injury anyway and so he is unavailable.
- Sadio Mane scored the winner the other day and, despite the emergence of Iliman Ndiaye and improvement of Ismaila Sarr - two Premier League stars - he remains the team's key man.
- Nicolas Jackson came into the XI for the semi-final and it would be a surprise to see the Bayern Munich, who continue to top the Bundesliga in his absence, man dropped, while Thiaw will make a late call on the midfield battle between Habib Diarra and Lamine Camara, who plays for Monaco in Ligue 1.
Morocco Team News
- Arguably the star man of the tournament has been Brahim Diaz, who will be content to simply be getting some respite from the chaos of Real Madrid in La Liga.
- Azzedine Ounahi has been ruled out for most of this tournament, including the semi-final, but the Girona man is trying to force his way back to full fitness.
- Roma continue to fly high in Serie A but they have sorely missed the excellent Neil El Aynaoui, who has stood in for Ounahi in the middle of the park.
Senegal vs. Morocco Lineups: Predicted Starting XI’s
This is how we think the two teams will lineup in Rabat on Sunday night:
Senegal predicted lineup to play Morocco
E. Mendy (GK) – Diatta, M. Sarr, Niakhate, E. Diouf – Camara, I. Gueye, P. Gueye – Ndiaye, Jackson, Mane
- Out: N/A
- Doubtful: Diarra
- Suspension: Koulibaly
Morocco predicted lineup to play Senegal
Bono (GK) – Hakimi, Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui – El Aynaoui – Brahim, El Khannouss, Saibari, Abde Ez – El Kaabi
- Out: N/A
- Doubtful: Ounahi
- Suspension: N/A
AFCON Final Odds: Senegal vs. Morocco
- Senegal to win: 13/5 with Bet365
- Morocco to win: 13/10 with Bresbet
- Draw: 2/1 with Bet Victor
Bet Builder Tips: Senegal vs. Morocco
Our bet builder for Senegal vs. Morocco backs both teams to score – no, Morocco to win, over 4.5 yellow cards in the match and Senegal to have the most corners, which came to overall best odds of 5/1 with Bet365 at the time of writing.
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How to watch Senegal vs. Morocco: Live Stream, TV Channel
- Date: Sunday, January 18
- Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco
- Time: 19:00 GMT
- TV/Stream: Channel 4