Morocco will attempt to end a 50-year wait for continental success when they face Senegal in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday evening.

Kick-off is at 19:00 GMT at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where a capacity crowd is expected to create a charged atmosphere for one of the most anticipated finals in recent AFCON history.

The Atlas Lions arrive in formidable form. They are unbeaten in 26 matches since their last-16 exit at the 2023 finals in Ivory Coast and have built their campaign on defensive solidity, conceding just once in the tournament which was a penalty. It is the best defensive record at the competition.

For Morocco, the final represents more than a chance to lift a trophy. Victory would validate years of heavy investment in football infrastructure and development, and deliver a second AFCON title to add to their lone triumph in 1976.

“This trophy has been awaited for 50 years now,” defender Romain Saïss told the BBC World Service. “It’s the dream of all Moroccans.”

Standing in their way are Senegal, champions in 2021 and one of Africa’s most consistent sides of the past decade. The Teranga Lions have scored 12 goals on their route to the final and possess the attacking firepower to pose the sternest test yet of Morocco’s near-impenetrable back line.

Like their hosts, Senegal are also chasing a second Africa Cup of Nations crown, determined to reaffirm their status among the continent’s elite and spoil the party in Rabat.

Beyond the prestige, there is significant reward at stake. The winners will take home $10m (£7.9m) in prize money, an increase of $3m on the previous edition, underlining CAF’s growing investment in the competition.

The final also highlights the continued rise of African coaches on the continent’s biggest stage. Morocco’s Walid Regragui and Senegal’s Pape Thiaw are aiming to follow in the footsteps of Djamel Belmadi with Algeria in 2019, Aliou Cissé with Senegal in 2021, and Emerse Faé with Ivory Coast in 2023.

As North Africa’s pride meets West Africa’s powerhouse, the question in Rabat is simple: will Morocco finally fulfil a half-century dream on home soil, or will Senegal once again prove masters of the big occasion?