Senegal captain Sadio Mané has shed light on the tactical discipline and collective effort that powered the Teranga Lions past Egypt and into the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking after the narrow semi-final victory, the forward highlighted preparation, experience and teamwork as the key factors behind Senegal’s success.
Reflecting on the challenge posed by the Pharaohs, Mané admitted the encounter was always expected to be demanding, given Egypt’s pedigree on the continental stage.
“We knew from the beginning that the match would be difficult. We are well aware of the strengths of the Egyptian national team, and we tried to take advantage of previous experiences, which are cumulative experiences in such tournaments,” he told beIN SPORTS.
Mané stressed that Senegal’s ability to limit Egypt’s attacking threat played a crucial role in the outcome of the match. According to the Al-Nassr star, the team executed its defensive plan to near perfection while maintaining control in key areas of the pitch.
“We succeeded in preventing them from creating opportunities, and we controlled the ball well in the middle of the field, and we imposed close and distinctive marking on Marmoush and Salah,” he explained.
The former Liverpool winger also credited Senegal’s balance across all departments, noting that the team remained compact and organised throughout the contest. “We knew how to achieve a balance between attack, defense and midfield, and this success is credited to all the players,” Mané added, underlining the collective nature of the victory.
Mané went on to speak about the decisive moment that settled the semi-final, when he found the net with a stunning strike late in the game.
“I got the chance to score and I succeeded in taking advantage of it. The ball came to me well, I was positioned correctly, and I used my scoring instinct,” he said.
