Rabat – Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw has said his team is ready for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco, but admitted the host nation is the favorite.
Speaking on Saturday at the pre-game press conference, Thiaw noted that playing against Morocco will be tough, recalling the team’s strong performance at the 2022 World Cup.
He added that Senegal will give their best on the field, focusing on being technically and tactically prepared for the big match. The game will take place on Sunday night at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
“Playing against the host country is never easy. But in the end, it’s 11 players against 11. I hope everything goes well,” the coach said.
He added, “To win, we must be ready technically and tactically. It will be a tough game against a strong Moroccan team, which reached the World Cup 2022 semi-finals.”
That achievement, Thiaw said, “raised the level of African football, and tomorrow we will face a strong team that will do its best to win.”
The Senegalese coach also stressed, “We will play the game and do our best to win. We know how to handle these situations.”
He reiterated that Morocco is the favorite to win, saying, “The favorite is Morocco. They are first in the FIFA ranking (in Africa), and we are 18th.”
Moroccan and Senegalese fans are eager for the AFCON final between their two countries. The Atlas Lions qualified after beating Nigeria in the semifinals after a penalty shootout, while Senegal reached the final after beating Egypt 1-0.
Egypt and Nigeria are locking horns tonight to determine the third place holder.
