Senegal-Morocco: A royal final for a second star

With an African Cup trophy each in their prize list, Senegal and Morocco face each other this Sunday, from 7:00 p.m. GMT, at the Prince-Moulay-Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, in an expected shock before the start of the competition. The “Lions”, African champions in 2022 in Cameroon, are determined to recover the African Cup. To get there, we will have to defeat not only 11 Moroccans on the pitch, but also a stadium in turmoil that will have to be extinguished.

RABAT – African Champion in 2022 in Cameroon, for the first time in its history, Senegal invited itself to the elite of the greats of Africa. After several great generations of players who had failed to win the continental title, Sadio Mané and his teammates resolved this anomaly on February 6, 2022, at the Stade d’Olembe, in Yaoundé. Aliou Cissé, then on the sidelines, was the architect of this success acquired after 7 years of hard work. Four years later, Senegal, which had been dispossessed of its crown by Ivory Coast, went hunting again. This time, it is Pape Thiaw who is the captain on board. The workforce has changed significantly. Players like Saliou Ciss, Bouna Sarr, Famara Diédhiou, Abdou Diallo, Cheikhou Kouyaté…, who played a big role in winning the trophy, are no longer in the group. But, the “Tan” maintains its solidity with pillars of the caliber of Édouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gana Guèye, Sadio Mané. Of the 6 matches that Senegal has already played, on the road to the final, 5 victories have been recorded against Botswana (3-0), Benin (3-0), Sudan (3-1), Mali (1-0), Egypt (1-0). Solid defensively, Senegal only picked up the ball in the back of its net twice, against DR Congo (1-1) and Sudan (3-1). The “Lions” also have one of the best attacks of the tournament with 12 goals scored. However, efficiency always remains a point that must be emphasized. The “Lions” had 47 shots with 61.80% accuracy. Only 15.80% of Senegalese shots resulted in a goal. We must therefore pay close attention to a good Moroccan defense which has not conceded a goal since the group stage and the draw against Mali (1-1). Facing the “Lions of the Atlas”, the middle battle will be crucial. With the suspension of Habib Diarra, the trio Idrissa Gana Guèye, Pape Guèye and Lamine Camara will have work to do.

In defense, the absence of Kalidou Koulibaly, still suspended for the final, will be a hard blow. But, Mamadou Sarr, author of an excellent start against Egypt (1-0), reassures. You will need to lock the sides. No need to fear. El Hadji Malick Diouf, who put Mohamed Salah in his pocket, could, with the help of Sadio Mané, impose the control of the “Lions” on a side where one of the best Moroccan assets, Achraf Hakimi, should not have any space. Sadio Mané, author of 2 goals and 3 assists, hero of the success against Egypt, also hero of the coronation in 2022, is still expected to release his usual stroke of genius, in big moments. His partners, Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson, etc., will also have to be up to the task and above all be clinical against Bounou and his defense.

Strengths of the “Lions” of Senegal

The “Lions” have what it takes to write a new page in the history of Senegalese football in the most beautiful way. As they showed against the “Pharaohs”, we will have to raise the level against an over-motivated team supported by tens of thousands of supporters. Faced with the clamor which risks drowning out the 12th Gaïndé, Pape Thiaw’s men, as they recently did in Kinshasa against the DR Congo (3-2), will have to show character and authority to shower the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat and bathe the Senegalese people in indescribable joy. If young people like Mamadou Sarr (20 years old), Ibrahima Mbaye (17 years old), Habib Diarra (22 years old), Lamine Camara (22 years old), Pape Matar Sarr (23 years old), El Hadji Malick Diouf (20 years old)… are still fit enough to compete in other Can, it will perhaps be the last for executives like Idrissa Gana Guèye (36 years old), Kalidou Koulibaly (34 years old), Sadio Mané (33 years old). The double African Ballon d’Or hinted at a possible retirement after the victory against Egypt (1-0). A victory against Morocco will be the pinnacle of an already very successful career. But above all an inestimable pride for more than 18 million Senegalese who have supported their team since the start of the “Morocco 2025” Can.

From one of our special correspondents in Morocco, Julien Mbesse SÈNE