Morocco Gears Up Against Senegal for AFCON Final Clash While Salah's Trophy Ambitions Wane
Morocco, the host nation, and Senegal are set to battle for supremacy in the Africa Cup of Nations final this weekend, following hard-fought semi-final triumphs on Wednesday, yet Mohamed Salah must grapple with the possibility that his quest for continental glory might never materialise.
The competition has culminated in a marquee matchup between two of Africa's premier football nations, ranked as the continents top teams by FIFA.
For Morocco, who advanced via penalties over Nigeria after a goalless semi-final in Rabat, reaching this point aligns with their momentum since Walid Regraguis squad made history as the first African and Arab side to attain the World Cup semi-finals in 2022.
They remain unbeaten since a surprising last-16 departure from the 2024 AFCON against South Africa and sit at 11th globally, surpassing Italy in the rankings.
Morocco features the current African footballer of the year, Achraf Hakimi from Paris Saint-Germain, and seeks to crown their recent achievements with the AFCON crown: they claimed the Under-20 World Cup in October, the Arab Cup last month, and Olympic bronze in 2024.
Historically viewed as underperformers in African football, their sole Nations Cup victory dates to 1976, with only one other final appearance in 2004 when Regragui played.
The Atlas Lions have not always captivated audiences in their domestic tournament and have drawn boos from local fans, while Regragui endures scrutiny despite his accomplishments since taking charge in August 2022.
Nonetheless, they have allowed just one goal across six games, from a penalty in a group draw with Mali, and boast Real Madrids Brahim Diaz as perhaps the tournaments standout performer.
"Expectations are elevated following our World Cup semi-final run, and I anticipate criticism should we fall short in the final," Regragui acknowledged during a media briefing in the small hours of Thursday.
Peak Era
His squad has secured qualification for a third consecutive World Cup, and Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 tournament alongside Spain and Portugal.
"Moroccan football is in its prime era, though we should recall our origins," Regragui noted.
Senegal also enjoys a golden period as the 2022 African title holders, who edged Egypt 1-0 in the semis courtesy of Sadio Manes strike in Tangiers.
The Lions of Teranga have earned spots in three successive World Cups, marking their third final in four AFCON outings, having fallen to Algeria in Cairo during 2019.
Ranked 19th worldwide, Senegal posed the clearest challenge on paper to Moroccos home title bid and built their campaign on a robust backline that has shipped only two goals.
Final Opportunity?
Yet, in contrast to Morocco, this Senegal unit is maturing, with 33-year-old Mane declaring Wednesday that this marks his final AFCON.
"We hope to retain him for additional seasons," affirmed Senegal manager Pape Thiaw. "I trust this is not his concluding final."
Salah, by contrast, requires moments to process another Nations Cup shortfall.
He celebrates his 34th birthday this year and arrived in Morocco yearning for international triumph amid uncertainty over his Liverpool tenure.
Salahs AFCON ledger brims with setbacks, including runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2022, a last-16 ousting when Egypt hosted in 2019.
His previous tournament, two years prior in Ivory Coast, concluded prematurely due to a hamstring issue.
Once more, he has come up short, leaving seven-time winners Egypt trophyless since 2010.
Salah can anticipate captaining the Pharaohs at the World Cup and will likely summon resolve for one more AFCON attempt, with the forthcoming edition in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda slated for next year.