Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has conceded that his side carries the weight of expectation as they get set to clash with Senegal in the grand finale of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The much-anticipated showdown between the Atlas Lions and the Lions of Teranga kicks off tonight at 19:00 GMT at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Regragui noted that playing in front of a home crowd naturally increases the pressure on Morocco.
“The team that naturally has the pressure is Morocco. It’s normal — we’re playing at home,” he admitted.
Regragui stressed the importance of staying mentally strong, urging his players to remain composed and avoid allowing the moment to overwhelm them.
“For us, the key factor will be managing emotions. My only fear is not playing freely, putting too much pressure on ourselves and starting to think negatively,” he said.
“This is a football match, a final: you have to play it, you have to enjoy it.”
Tonight’s winner will be crowned the new champions of Africa.
