CAN 2025 between Morocco and Senegal: four bilateral duels crown the final of the African dream

Sadio Mané against Achraf Hakimi, Ibrahim Díaz against Edouard Mendy, Nasser Mazraoui trying to contain Ilimane Ndiaye, and the battle for control of the midfield between Naïl El Aïnaoui - Idrissa Gueye are the most notable bilateral duels in the African Cup of Nations soccer final between host Morocco and Senegal on Sunday in Rabat, in a final that is expected to be hotly contested for the second continental title.

Mané - Hakimi

Mané and Hakimi are the undisputed stars and captains of their respective teams, but they are experiencing opposite dynamics during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The “Lion of Teranga” is said to be getting on in years, at 33, and less competitive since moving to the Saudi league in 2023 to play for Al-Nassr, coming from Germany's Bayern Munich after a successful career with England's Liverpool, but Mané remains Senegal's savior. He stood out with two goals, one of them in the semifinal against Egypt (1-0), and demonstrated his team spirit with three decisive passes.

One of the keys to the final will be Hakimi's ability to contain Mané on the right side. The Moroccan captain, considered the best in the world in his position, began the continental tournament recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in November with his team, Paris Saint-Germain.

Morocco has yet to see the Hakimi who appeared last season with Paris Saint-Germain. Although the defender remains decisive, especially on set pieces, his offensive contribution has been reduced to a minimum and he does not offer the same defensive guarantees as his teammates at the back, even though the Moroccan defense is the most solid in the tournament.

Brahim Diaz - Mendy

Diaz, the tournament's top scorer so far with five goals, is enjoying a moment of international glory in this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, while Mendy, one of the veteran 30-somethings in the ranks of the “Lions of Teranga,” is likely playing one of his last games for his country's national team.

The clash between Diaz and Mandi will depend largely on the talented Moroccan's ability to regain his energy and break through the opposition's defense, something he failed to do against Nigeria in the semifinals.

For his part, Mandi, who was a key player in the 2019 and 2022 editions, in which Senegal reached the final (and was injured during the 2019 edition), will also take on the responsibility of leading the defense in the absence of captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who is suspended.

Who will prevail in midfield between the veteran Senegalese lion and the promising Moroccan player of the tournament?

Mezraoui - Ndiaye

Nassir Mezraoui and Elyiman Ndiaye are like “Swiss Army knives” in the hands of their coaches.

The Moroccan played in his favorite position, right back, during the Atlas Lions' first two games while Hakimi recovered. The Manchester United fullback was one of the few who maintained his level, especially in the first game against the Comoros, in which most of his teammates seemed nervous under pressure.

Mezraoui was selected for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) team of the tournament in the group stage and continued to deliver flawless performances even when he moved to left back after Hakimi returned to the starting lineup.

For his part, Elyman Ndiaye moves between positions according to the vision of his coach, Bab Thiaw, sometimes playing behind the pair of strikers and sometimes in midfield on the right wing. However, in his original position on the right wing, he was more dangerous in the last two games, against Mali in the quarterfinals, where he was named man of the match, and against Egypt in the semifinals.

Ndiaye, along with Bab Guéye, embodies the generational renewal within the ranks of the Lions of Teranga.

Naïl El Aïnaoui - Idrissa Gueye

Who will prevail in midfield between the veteran Senegalese lion and the promising Moroccan star of the tournament?

Idrissa Gueye, about to turn 37, is participating in the Africa Cup of Nations for the sixth time and has played in all six of Senegal's matches so far. He is expected to wear the captain's armband in the final against Morocco, in the absence of the suspended Kalidou Koulibaly, in what will be his 133rd international match.

For his part, El Ainaoui, 24, has played 12 international matches since September 2025, after hesitating for two years before joining the ranks of the “Lions of the Atlas,” preferring to focus on his club career rather than the national team.

His coach, Walid Regragui, is proud of his patience and of not having given up on the idea of signing the son of famous tennis player Younes El Ainaoui, who is very popular in the Kingdom of Morocco. Arriving in midfield alongside stalwarts Azzedine Ounahi and Sofiane Amrabat, the youngster became the leader of the Moroccan midfield during the tournament, and his talent exploded before the world in the semifinal against Nigeria.