Three finals in the last four editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Senegal has firmly established itself at the pinnacle of African football. On the eve of the grand final, Moussa Niakhaté, a key player for the national team, spoke at a press conference about this remarkable consistency and the Lions' mindset before facing the host nation.

When asked about Senegal's exceptional consistency in the Africa Cup of Nations, Moussa did not hide his pride: "It shows the consistency of Senegalese football in recent years. We are very happy about that. Three finals out of the last four editions is very strong, it's exceptional, especially when you see the quality of our opponents."

For the player, this success is not a matter of chance: "It's the result of a long-term project that started 10 or 15 years ago. Today, our generation is reaping the rewards of that work. The coach has taken over well after the departure of coach Aliou Cissé."

He also stressed the importance of intergenerational transmission: "There are veterans who provide excellent guidance, who have experienced more difficult times and who have taught us what African football is all about. It is this rotation that means that today, the semi-finals are almost a minimum for Senegal, and the final has become a habit."

But one detail remains to be corrected: "We have only won once on this habit. It is something we want to fix tomorrow by winning this Africa Cup," he said.

This final will pit two great nations and two brotherly countries against each other: Senegal and Morocco. A special context, but one that Moussa approaches with great respect: "I don't really like this expression 'spoil the party'. We are about respect. We have always respected our opponents; it's a value that was instilled in us in Senegal," he says.

Niakhaté also emphasized the importance of preserving the spirit of brotherhood: "These are truly two brotherly countries. We felt it throughout the competition. We mustn't let all of this be ruined, especially in the final hours."

Despite this calming tone, Moussa does not hide Senegal's ambition: "In the end, there will only be one winner: either Morocco or us. And we will do everything to make sure it's us. Because our people deserve it, because we deserve it, because we have worked very hard these past few months."

Aware of the home advantage for the opposition, he remains calm: "We know they're playing at home, that the crowd will be behind them. But we also play to experience that kind of atmosphere. It doesn't bother us at all."

Motivation is immense in the Senegalese camp, with thoughts for all those who couldn't be there. "We want to bring this cup back to Dakar, celebrate it with our people, our families, and also with the players who were absent due to injuries or other reasons," he said, before concluding with faith and determination: "We're going to give it our all. And God willing, Senegal will win."