It will be the first AFCON to take place in the region since Ethiopia hosted in 1976 and comes just before the tournament switches to taking place every four years. It has usually been held every two years since the first edition in 1957.

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw on Saturday said he hoped the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco would not be Sadio Mane's last ever game at the tournament, insisting the former Liverpool star could not consider walking away from the team.

The 55-year-old, who took clay pigeon shooting bronze at the 2012 London Olympic Games, was adding to his previous Dakar wins.

Veteran Williams is back in Melbourne for the first time since 2021 after being handed a wildcard and faces a tough task against 68th-ranked Olga Danilovic of Serbia.