Senegal booked their place in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 after Sadio Mané scored the decisive goal in a tense 1–0 semi-final victory over Egypt in Tangier.
Mané struck with 12 minutes remaining, latching onto a loose ball outside the penalty area before firing a right-footed effort inside the left-hand post, a moment of quality that finally separated two evenly matched sides.
The result sends Senegal into Sunday’s final and once again denies Mohamed Salah his long-awaited first AFCON title, extending Egypt’s continental drought to 16 years.
A Familiar Story in High-Stakes Encounters
The goal marked the third time Mané has come out on top against his former Liverpool teammate in major international matches. The previous two victories came four years ago, when Senegal defeated Egypt on penalties in:
the 2021 AFCON final
the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off in Cairo
Once again, Mané proved decisive when it mattered most.
Salah Kept Quiet as Senegal Control the Margins
Salah, who had scored four goals on Egypt’s run to the semi-finals, struggled to impose himself on the contest. Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was largely untroubled, with Egypt’s first real effort on target arriving deep into stoppage time when Omar Marmoush forced a long-range save.
Despite Egypt’s late pressure, Senegal’s defensive discipline held firm to preserve a narrow but deserved victory.
Touchline Tensions Between Former Teammates
The semi-final was not without flashpoints. A first-half foul by Salah on Mané near the benches sparked heated scenes, briefly forcing players and staff from both sides to intervene. Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra was later booked for his role in the aftermath and will miss the final through suspension.
The incident underlined the intensity of a rivalry that has repeatedly shaped AFCON history.
What’s Next
Senegal, coached by Pape Thiaw, will now face either Nigeria or Morocco in the final on Sunday (19:00 GMT). Nigeria and tournament hosts Morocco meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday night in Rabat.
For Senegal, the chance to defend their continental crown remains alive.
For Egypt and Salah, another AFCON campaign ends in heartbreak—once again at the hands of Sadio Mané.