Senegal 1-0 Egypt: Sadio Mané Sends Lions of Teranga to AFCON 2025 Final
In a repeat of the 2021 final, Senegal once again proved to be the kryptonite for the Pharaohs, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Egypt in Tangier yesterday. The win guarantees Senegal a spot in their third Africa Cup of Nations final in the last four editions.
Match Summary: Mané vs. Salah Part III
The match was billed as the ultimate showdown between former Liverpool teammates Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah. While Salah was kept quiet by a disciplined Senegalese backline, Mané found the moment of magic needed to break the deadlock late in the second half.
First Half: Senegal dominated possession (nearly 70%), but the game remained cagey. The biggest blow for the Lions of Teranga came in the 23rd minute when captain Kalidou Koulibaly was forced off with an injury.
The Breakthrough: In the 78th minute, a deflected strike from Lamine Camara fell perfectly into the path of Sadio Mané. The veteran forward controlled the ball and rifled a low shot into the bottom corner, sending the Senegalese fans into a frenzy.
Key Match Statistics
Despite the close scoreline, Senegal were the aggressors throughout the 90 minutes.
Statistic Senegal Egypt
Possession 65% 35%
Shots 11 4
Shots on Target 4 1
Final Score 1 0
Defensive Masterclass
While Mané will grab the headlines, the Senegalese defense deserves immense credit. Even after losing Koulibaly, the unit—anchored by Moussa Niakhaté and Abdoulaye Seck—limited Mohamed Salah to zero shots on target and only a handful of touches inside the box.
The Road to the Trophy
Senegal now turns their attention to the grand finale. Having won the tournament in 2021 and finishing as runners-up in 2019, they are looking to cement their status as the dominant force in African football.
The Final: Senegal vs. Morocco
Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026
Venue: Rabat
”We knew it would be a game of patience. Egypt is a very tough team to break down, but we kept our focus and Sadio did what he does best. We are one step away from our goal.” — Pape Thiaw, Senegal Head Coach
