Walid Regragui urged Morocco to show they’re a “main soccer nation” by successful the Africa Cup of Nations on residence soil, the place they face Senegal in Sunday’s last.
Tanzania, Cameroon and Nigeria have all been swept apart within the knockout stage en path to Morocco’s second AFCON showpiece, and first since 2004.
Regragui’s aspect misplaced their final such last 2-1 to Tunisia over 20 years in the past, however Wednesday’s penalty shoot-out victory over Nigeria within the final 4 has the nation dreaming of glory as soon as once more.
“I feel we need to be within the last. We’ve performed high groups like Mali, Cameroon and Nigeria, and now we can be dealing with one other of one of the best groups,” mentioned Regragui.
“Ultimately, persons are going to just accept that Morocco are literally a serious soccer nation. However to go to the subsequent step, we now have to win titles, so Sunday’s match is de facto necessary by way of our historical past.”
Pre-tournament expectations have been excessive for the hosts, although Regragui says even an early exit wouldn’t have modified his mindset.
“Even when we had been knocked out within the first spherical, that may not have prevented me from believing in myself and telling myself I’m a great coach,” Regragui mentioned.
“What I’ve completed prior to now can’t be taken away from me. I’m not anticipating folks to provide me something. I’m not claiming to be one of the best. A very powerful factor is that Morocco are within the last.”
استعدادات متواصلة لمنتخبنا الوطني قبل لقاء النهائي أمام السنغال
Targeted preparations forward of the Ultimate in opposition to Senegal #DimaMaghrib pic.twitter.com/9B067s4P4d
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) January 16, 2026
Senegal progressed previous Sudan and Mali earlier than their 1-0 victory over Egypt within the semi-final, making the showpiece of this competitors for the third time within the final 4 editions.
Pape Thiaw has a wealth of expertise to name upon, too, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, captain Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye a few of the most notable figures.
Koulibaly can be suspended for the ultimate, nevertheless, whereas former Liverpool star Sadio Mane has already mentioned this sport can be his final on the match.
“I’m a soldier of the nation, and I attempt to give my all each day, whether or not in coaching or in matches,” Mane mentioned.
“However that’s not an important factor for me. A very powerful factor is to carry this cup to Dakar.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Senegal – Sadio Mane
Mane has created essentially the most possibilities (18) at this match, with all of these coming from open play. That’s the most possibilities any participant has created from open play on file (since 2010) at a single AFCON.
The previous Liverpool star has scored 4 objectives within the knockout levels of the Africa Cup of Nations, twice as many as some other Senegal participant, and he might turn out to be solely the fifth participant in AFCON historical past to attain 5 or extra knockout objectives (excluding third-place play-off).
Morocco – Brahim Diaz
Diaz might turn out to be the primary participant to attain in six totally different matches at a single staging of the Africa Cup of Nations, in addition to the primary Morocco participant to win the Golden Boot outright, having netted 5 instances in six matches up to now.
As well as, having scored within the final 16 in opposition to Tanzania and within the quarter-finals in opposition to Cameroon, Diaz might turn out to be the second Morocco participant to attain three objectives within the knockout rounds at a single version of AFCON, after Youssef Mokhtari in 2004.
MATCH PREDICTION – SENEGAL WIN
This would be the first-ever Africa of Nations match between Senegal and Morocco, although the Opta supercomputer backed Thiaw’s aspect because the pre-match favourites.
Certainly, Sunday would be the first last within the competitors to see two groups face one another for the primary time since 1996, when South Africa beat Tunisia 2-0.
Senegal are the shape group at this match, given no aspect has performed (24) or gained (17) extra matches than them at AFCON because the 2019 version.
The Lions of Teranga have additionally scored essentially the most objectives (38) and saved essentially the most clear sheets (16) on this time, although Morocco head into this contest in superb kind.
Morocco have saved 4 consecutive clear sheets at AFCON for the primary time, with solely Ivory Coast (six in 2012 and 5 in 1992) and Cameroon (5 in 2002) ever managing extra shutouts in a row in a single version.
And Senegal will concentrate on their struggles on the large event. Having failed to attain a single objective of their earlier three AFCON finals, Senegal are the one group to play in a couple of last within the competitors and by no means rating.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Senegal – 41.8%
Morocco – 32%
Draw – 26.2%
