Morocco and Senegal Set for African Cup of Nations Final Clash
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Morocco and Senegal will compete for the coveted African Cup of Nations title next Sunday after securing dramatic victories in Wednesday’s semi-final matches, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown. The Atlas Lions defeated Nigeria 4-2 in a penalty shootout, while Senegal edged past Egypt 1-0, fueled by a goal from Sadio Mané.
Morocco’s Penalty Heroics Propel Them to the Final
Host nation Morocco advanced to the final for the second time in its history, after a tense penalty shootout against a resilient Nigeria at Prince Moulay Abdullah Stadium in Rabat. The match remained scoreless after extra time, leading to the dramatic conclusion. Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, was the hero of the night, saving two crucial penalties.
“We made great preparations for this match, and thank God we achieved the desired result,” Bounou stated after the match.
The shootout wasn’t without its drama. After Hamza Ighaman missed for Morocco, Nigeria’s Chikwezi also faltered. Ilyas Benseghir, Achraf Hakimi, and substitute Youssef En-Nesyri then converted their kicks for Morocco, while Farouk Dele Bashiru scored for Nigeria before Onyimachi’s miss sealed the win.This victory marks Morocco’s fourth triumph over Nigeria in six encounters, adding to their wins in 1976, when they secured their first and onyl African Cup of Nations title. Morocco’s defense has been particularly impressive throughout the tournament,achieving a tournament-best five clean sheets.
Senegal Overcomes Egypt in Repeat Matchup
Earlier on Wednesday, in Tangier, senegal defeated Egypt 1-0, continuing a recent pattern of success over the Pharaohs. Sadio Mané scored the decisive goal in the 77th minute, giving Senegal the edge in a match they largely controlled. This win avenges previous defeats against Egypt, including losses in the 2021 African Cup of Nations final and the 2022 World Cup qualifiers – both decided on penalties.
Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan employed a defensive 5-3-2 formation, but Senegal’s consistent pressure proved difficult to contain. The match saw several yellow cards issued, with Hossam Abdel Majeed of Egypt and Habib Diarra and Coulibaly of Senegal receiving cautions. the Senegalese team, boasting a strong defense lead by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, has conceded only two goals throughout the tournament.
Before the semi-final, Hassan acknowledged the competitive spirit between Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Senegal’s Mané, calling it “an honorable model for African football.” Egypt will now face Nigeria in the third-place match on Saturday in Casablanca.
Top Scorers in the Tournament
as of January 14, 2026, the leading goalscorers in the african Cup of Nations are:
- Ibrahim Abdelkader Dias (Morocco)
- Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
- Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco), Lassine Senayoko (Mali), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)
- Nicholas Jackson, Pape Gueye, Sadio Mane (Senegal), Elias Achouri (Tunisia), Rafael Onyedika, Lyle Foster, Osoin Appolis (South Africa), Gaël Kakuta (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Ibrahim Mazza (Algeria), Jenny Katamu (Mozambique), Christian Kofan (Cameroon), Akor Adams (Nigeria), Omar Marmoush (Egypt)
- Saul Coco (Equatorial Guinea vs. Sudan), Ghislain Konan (Ivory Coast vs. Cameroon), Aubrey Modiba (South Africa vs.Zimbabwe), Nene (Mozambique vs. Cameroon), Ahmed Fattouh (Egypt vs.Ivory Coast).
The final between Morocco and Senegal promises to be a captivating contest, showcasing the best of African football and potentially crowning a new champion after 50 years for Morocco.
