Exclusive interview – Lamia Boumehdi: every little detail will matter in the 2025 AFCON final

Exclusive

Lamia Boumehdi breaks down the 2025 AFCON final

Exclusive interview – Lamia Boumehdi: every little detail will matter in the 2025 AFCON final

Moroccan coach Lamia Boumehdi led Congolese club TP Mazembe to their first-ever CAF Women's Champions League title in 2024.

This remarkable achievement earned her the title of Africa's best coach at the 2024 CAF Awards, and then again in 2025, firmly cementing her status among the leading figures in African football.

A former player for Football Club Berrechid (Morocco) and Sadaka Sporting Club (Lebanon), Boumehdi was plagued by misfortune during her playing career, having to hang up her boots at just 26 after suffering a torn cruciate ligament.

After this setback, she turned to coaching and quickly took charge of the Morocco U20 national team. In just a few months, she won the 2019 North African Cup and clinched bronze at the African Games that same year.

Following a stint with the senior national team staff, she moved to DR Congo to become head coach of TP Mazembe. With the Congolese club, she delivered an impressive run: two national championship titles and a Women's Champions League crown.

Afterwards, she joined the technical staff of the Congolese national team.

With just 24 hours to go before the grand final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) between Morocco and Senegal, Lamia Boumehdi agreed to answer questions from the Foot Africa editorial team, with her trademark openness and humility.

In my opinion, this match promises to be tightly contested, as both teams are very evenly matched. In this context, it will be the little details that make the difference: mental presence, the ability to handle pressure, and staying focused until the final whistle.To answer your question, Morocco should stick to the same tactical approach that worked against Cameroon in the quarterfinals and Nigeria in the semis: intense, suffocating pressing while denying Senegal's key players any space. This will demand unwavering concentration and physical commitment.

What is Morocco's main strength in this AFCON 2025?

We have to highlight the outstanding work of Walid Regragui, the Atlas Lions' head coach. His team has dominated opponents thanks to a highly effective tactical setup. Shutting down technical and physical sides like Cameroon and Nigeria is never easy. The Moroccan players have also shown great discipline and determination, as evidenced by the impressive number of duels they've won throughout the tournament. The fans also deserve credit for lifting the team during tough moments.

In your opinion, what are Senegal’s strengths and weaknesses?

Senegal is, above all, a tightly knit team, with remarkable player solidarity. Coach Pape Thiaw has clearly worked on this, which is often lacking in other African sides.Senegal boasts several individuals capable of making the difference, especially in midfield and up front. The team exudes calm and rarely panics, showing tremendous mental strength.It's hard to pinpoint real weaknesses in the Senegalese side, given how impressive they've been. However, there is a certain sluggishness in their defenders' movement.

Which teams have impressed you most at this AFCON 2025?

Beyond the two finalists, I was pleasantly surprised by Nigeria, who delivered a fantastic tournament. The Super Eagles hadn't shown this level for quite some time. The Leopards also gave a good account of themselves and could have made it to the last four.

Several players have stood out. I have a soft spot for Brahim Diaz, who has been sensational throughout the competition. Moroccan right-back Noussair Mazraoui deserves a nod too—he's been everywhere on the pitch—as does holding midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, one of the tournament’s big revelations.To avoid being biased, I’ll also mention Sadio Mané (Senegal), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), all of whom have shone at this AFCON 2025.