When Morocco and Senegal step out at Rabat’s Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah for the Africa Cup of Nations final, the spotlight will fall on two squads packed with quality and experience.

In a contest expected to be tight and finely balanced, individual moments may prove decisive. Here are four players whose form, leadership and temperament could tilt Africa’s biggest match.

Achraf Hakimi: Morocco’s engine and edge

For the hosts, Achraf Hakimi has been more than a right-back. The Paris St-Germain defender has driven Morocco’s build-up play, offering pace, precision and authority from deep positions.

Equally important has been his role in anchoring the tournament’s most resilient defence. With Morocco conceding just once en route to the final, Hakimi’s composure, leadership and delivery from set-pieces have made him the team’s on-field compass, a figure perfectly suited to the energy of a home crowd.

Brahim Díaz: Morocco’s creative spark

If Morocco are to unlock Senegal, much may depend on Brahim Díaz. The Real Madrid playmaker has lit up the tournament with his close control and decisiveness, scoring in five matches and shouldering much of the creative burden.

Comfortable drifting between the lines, Díaz thrives in crowded spaces where chances are scarce. In a final likely to be settled by a single moment of quality, his ability to conjure something from nothing could be crucial.

Sadio Mané: Senegal’s leader and closer

For Senegal, Sadio Mané remains the heartbeat. Now 33, the former Liverpool forward continues to define big occasions, as he did with the semi-final winner against Egypt.

Whether operating from the left or through the middle, Mané brings calm, experience and an instinct for decisive goals. In moments of pressure, Senegal know they can still look to their talisman for inspiration and belief.

Iliman Ndiaye: Senegal’s disruptor

Alongside Mané, Iliman Ndiaye provides movement and unpredictability. The forward links midfield and attack with tireless energy, pressing high and constantly seeking pockets of space.

His ability to receive under pressure, turn quickly and create shooting angles makes him a different kind of threat, one capable of unsettling even Morocco’s disciplined back line.

As Africa’s premier tournament reaches its climax, the margins are expected to be slim. When Morocco and Senegal meet under the Rabat lights, it may be these four players, with one touch, run or decision, who write the final chapter of AFCON 2025.