Sadio Mane scored the winner as Senegal beat Egypt to reach the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) – and leave Mohamed Salah still waiting for his first continental title.
Mane struck the only goal of a cagey contest with 12 minutes remaining in Tangier, firing a low right-footed shot inside the left-hand upright after the ball broke to him outside the box.
It marks the third occasion that the Senegal forward has got the better of his former Liverpool team-mate in a high-stakes international match.
Both of those previous wins came four years ago, as the West Africans beat the Pharaohs on penalties in both the final of the 2021 Afcon and a play-off for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
Salah had scored four goals in Egypt’s run to the semi-finals, his best haul at an Afcon, but was largely anonymous as the North Africans failed to test Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy until Omar Marmoush had a long-range effort saved in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Pape Thiaw’s side will face either Nigeria or Morocco in the final on Sunday (19:00 GMT), with the West Africans taking on the hosts in Wednesday’s second semi-final in Rabat (20:00 GMT).
Senegal will be without captain Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Habib Diarra for the final after both players picked up a second caution in the knockout stage – although Koulibaly may not be fit anyway after being forced off midway through the first half.
Mane settles tense encounter
Billed as a showdown between the long-time Anfield club-mates, the game was largely dominated by a Senegal side which struggled to break down an organised Pharaohs defence.
Nicolas Jackson fired over the bar in the first half before Diarra and Pape Gueye eventually tested keeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
Egypt rarely threatened but were denied an opening when Marmoush was tripped by Koulibaly over 30 yards from goal, a challenge which earned the Senegal captain his caution.
A tense atmosphere was underlined by a clash between both benches five minutes before the break after Senegal coach Pape Thiaw strayed into Egypt’s technical area to issue instructions during a stop in play.
The pattern was repeated after the break, as Lamine Camara and Iliman Ndiaye attempted long-range shots for the Teranga Lions and the Pharaohs sat back despite the introduction of the experienced Trezeguet at half-time.
The breakthrough finally came when Camara had an effort blocked and the ball fell to Mane, who pounced from 20 yards with El Shenawy rooted to the spot.
That sparked celebrations before Senegal survived a video assistant referee check for an offside against Jackson earlier in the move and a handball claim against Mane.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan threw on Zizo, Mostafa Mohamed and Salah Mohsen in a late bid to find an equaliser, but the record seven-time champions showed little attacking intent for most of the 90 minutes.
Mendy was finally called into action to save a right-footed strike from Manchester City man Marmoush, and it will be Senegal who now have the chance to clinch a second title.
Salah falls short again
Salah, at 33, will now be contemplating another missed opportunity to lift the Afcon trophy with Egypt.
He told reporters “this is the title I am waiting for” after the quarter-final win over Ivory Coast, but the forward never had a clear sight of goal in Tangier.
Salah was a losing finalist at the 2017 and 2021 editions – with those defeats sandwiching a last-16 exit in 2019 on home soil – and he was then injured as Egypt went out in the first knockout round at the 2023 finals.
This defeat will hurt even more given that Mane proved to be the match-winner once again, having netted the decisive spot-kick in both shootouts between the sides in 2022.
The 2027 tournament, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, could prove to be Salah’s last chance to claim the prize that has eluded him, especially given that Afcon will become a quadrennial event from 2028.
Egypt, meanwhile, suffered a first semi-final defeat since 1984 and their wait for a first title since completing a hat-trick in 2010 will be extended further.
