AFCON 2025: Mane fires Senegal to final as Salah's Egypt bow out
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Reading Time: 4min | Wed. 14.01.26. | 22:01
Senegal will face the winner between Morocco and Nigeria in the final
When Senegal needed something special to successfully break the Egyptian defence and book a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, Sadio Mane delivered when it mattered most.
For the better part of the semifinal encounter staged at the Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangier , Senegal had knocked on the Egyptian area only to be met with similar force.
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Unlike Egypt who had their first and meaningful shot on target deep into stoppage time, Senegal dominated and gave goalkeeper Mohammed El Shenawy work to do.
However, squeezing the ball past the towering shot stopper proved a challenge for the Lions of Teranga, who barked all through and failed to bite until their star man did it.
When it mattered most, the man wearing the number ten shirt for Senegal fired outside the box to separate the two sides- his team picking the ticket to the final, while the Pharaohs took the exit routh of the tournament.
Mane struck in the 78th minute to settle the contest, whose major focus was not only on the ticket to the final, but him and his former club teammate Mohammed Salah, captaining the Egyptian side.
Senegal qualified to the semi-final courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Mali in the quarter final, which was preceded by a 3-1 win over Sudan in the Round of 16.
On their part, Egypt edged out outgoing champions Ivory Coast 3-2 in the quarter finals, having left it late in extra time to win 3-1 against Benin in the round of 16.
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Senegal were on familiar territory, having played their previous five matches in Tangier as opposed to Egypt who had pitched a tent in Adagir.
Senegal began the match with a high tempo and with clear intentions of scoring an early goal through their quick attacks, with Mane flagged offside in the fourth minute for an early adventure into the opponent’s half.
By the fifth minute, The Lions of Teranga were the dominant team, exchanging both short and long passes with high tempo but with nothing significant to trouble Egypt.
As the game approached the 10th minute, Egypt settled in the match and began to have a spell of possession that forced Senegal to retreat into their own half.
Senegal captain Kalidou Kuolibaly received the match’s first booking in the 17th minute for a foul which effectively ruled him out of his team’s next match.
Bayern Munich striker Nicholas Jackson made Senegal’s first attempt in the match in the 19th minute, taking a shot from the edge of the box but it rose over the bar.
Senegal would then face a blow in the 23rd minute when Kuolibaly suffered an injury that forced coach Pape Thiaw to make an early change, bringing in Mamadou Sarr from the former Chelsea defender.
Three minutes later, Mane launched into the Egyptian box but was blocked off by the defense before he could pull the trigger.
The Senegalese side continued to exert their dominance all through past the half hour mark, with Habib Diarra forcing El Shenaway into a fine save.
The two teams continued to battle out but none was showing signs of taking the lead with Diarra also joining Kuolibaly as the players who would miss Senegal’s next match after going into the referee’s book.
Second half
Senegal began the second half just as strong as they had completed the first half, dominating proceedings with El Hadji Malick Diouf causing the Egyptian defense headache from the flanks. leading to the hour mark.
Senegal would then reap the fruits of their efforts in the 78th minute when Mane picked a ball from the edge of the penalty area and struck the ball inside the left post to give his side the lead.
After the goal, Senegal retreated to their box to protect their lead, while Egypt were clearly rattled- increased their urgency in search of a goal.
However, the Senegalese defense, marshalled by Lyon defender Moussa Niakhite, stood tall to ensure that Senegal secured the win and booked the first slot in the final.
Senegal will face the winner of the other semi final clash between Nigeria and Morocco in the 2025 AFCON final set for Sunday, 18 January.
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