Senegal forward Sadio Mané has shared words of encouragement for his former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah following Egypt’s defeat at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The semi-final clash between Senegal and Egypt was played on Wednesday evening at the Tangier Stadium, with both sides battling for a place in the final of the continental showpiece.
Senegal eventually booked their spot in the final thanks to a late strike from Mané, who found the net in the 78th minute to secure a narrow 1-0 victory. The result extended the Teranga Lions’ recent dominance over the Pharaohs in major tournaments.
The two African giants last met in the final of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where Egypt emerged victorious via a penalty shootout. Senegal, however, responded by eliminating the Pharaohs in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Qatar, further tilting the balance in their favour.
Speaking to the BBC after the match, Mané reflected on Salah’s disappointment and acknowledged the difficulty of the moment for his former club colleague.
“It’s not easy for Salah, but I still wish him all the best,” he said.
Mané also praised Salah’s efforts throughout the tournament.
“He has done everything he can to lead his team so far. Unfortunately, one of us had to lose. I am happy to have reached the final.”
Salah and Mané enjoyed a highly successful partnership during their time together at Liverpool, winning multiple trophies under German manager Jürgen Klopp.
Their paths later diverged when Mané left the Premier League club in 2022 to join Bayern Munich before making a subsequent move to the Saudi Pro League.
