Mohamed Salah and his Egypt teammates are bracing for a high-stakes and fiercely contested encounter against arch-rivals Senegal on Wednesday as the two African giants lock horns in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The much-anticipated clash will take place at the Ibn Battouta Stadium in Tangier, Morocco, with a place in the AFCON final hanging in the balance. Egypt, under the guidance of head coach Hossam Hassan, are determined to deliver a commanding performance as they chase a record-extending eighth continental title.
The Pharaohs have enjoyed an impressive and thrilling run to the semi-finals, topping Group B with seven points from two wins and a draw. Victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa, coupled with a goalless draw against Angola, laid a solid foundation for their knockout campaign.
Egypt then brushed aside Benin with a 3-1 win before producing one of their most memorable displays of the tournament in the quarter-finals, edging defending champions Ivory Coast 3-2 in a pulsating contest that saw goals from Omar Marmoush, Rami Rabia and Mohamed Salah.
Senegal, meanwhile, have matched Egypt stride for stride on their path to the last four. The reigning champions finished top of Group D with seven points after wins over Benin and Botswana and a draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the knockout rounds, the Teranga Lions showed their resilience by overturning a deficit to defeat Sudan 3-1 in the round of 16, before securing a composed clean-sheet victory over Mali in the quarter-finals to set up a fiery semi-final showdown.
This meeting adds another chapter to one of African football’s most compelling modern rivalries. Egypt and Senegal last faced each other in the final of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, where Senegal triumphed on penalties after a tense goalless draw, denying Egypt an eighth title. The pain was compounded months later when Senegal again edged past the Pharaohs on penalties in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
All eyes will once again be on the headline duel between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané. Salah, Egypt’s captain and talisman, has already scored three goals in the tournament and carries the hopes of a nation eager to return to the summit of African football. Mané, now plying his trade with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, will rely on his experience and leadership to guide Senegal in their bid to defend the title.
Alongside Salah, Omar Marmoush has emerged as a key attacking threat for Egypt, delivering standout performances and netting two vital goals. His partnership with Salah has given the Pharaohs a potent attacking edge that could prove decisive.
This marks the 17th time Egypt have reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, drawing level with Nigeria as the most frequent qualifiers at this stage in the competition’s history. The winner of Wednesday’s blockbuster will advance to the final, where they will face the victor of the other semi-final between hosts Morocco and Nigeria on Saturday, January 18.
Egypt are desperate to reclaim the AFCON crown, which has eluded them since their historic treble triumphs in 2006, 2008 and 2010, while Senegal are equally determined to assert their dominance once again on the continental stage.
