Good evening and welcome to the live text commentary on the crucial semi-final encounter between Senegal and Egypt at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Senegal and Egypt step in for their #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 semi-final. 🇸🇳🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/GqXyAlMbl1
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
With a place in the final on the line, two of Africa’s football heavyweights will renew a rivalry that has defined recent AFCON history.
The semi-final game is scheduled to kick off at the Ibn Battouta Stadium in Tangier at 17:00GMT. Follow this live update as we build up to kick-off.
Smiles on. 🇸🇳
Senegal are in for their #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 semi-final. pic.twitter.com/ktRdQlqvXF
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
In terms of key statistics, both teams arrive at the semi-final unbeaten in the tournament, having conceded few goals and shown strong defensive organisation.
Senegal have relied on control and compactness, while Egypt have combined efficiency with moments of attacking brilliance, making this a fascinating contrast of styles.
With everything at stake, let’s check out how the two teams line up for the clash.
𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘-𝗨𝗣𝗦 📋
Semi-final starting XIs: Senegal vs Egypt. 🇸🇳🇪🇬#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/rXOTazHXTZ
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
Predicting the outcome is far from straightforward. Senegal’s cohesion and physical strength give them a slight edge, but Egypt’s experience in high-pressure matches and their ability to rise on big occasions cannot be underestimated. This contest could well be decided by fine margins, extra time or even penalties.
Egypt’s here. 🇪🇬
It’s #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 semi-final time. pic.twitter.com/fmCCBxzZeI
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
We are fast approaching kick-off. Who wins this one? Will Senegal repeat the 2022 AFCON final result or will Egypt get their revenge? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Everything is ready and it’s semi-final time for Senegal and Egypt. 👕#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/kvU30FnxNs
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
The two teams are done with their warm-ups as we approach kick-off in the next 15 minutes.
Final preparations for Egypt ahead of the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 semi-final. 🇪🇬#WePlayDifferent pic.twitter.com/sIcYlgjBMt
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
Senegal put in the work. Kick-off is minutes away. 🇸🇳#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WePlayDifferent pic.twitter.com/cXEgCaVHst
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
Kick-Off
1′ We are off at the Stade Ibn Batouta, it is Senegal who kick us off in the first semi-final match of AFCON 2025.
3′ It’s been a very slow start to the match by both teams in the early minutes. Egypt is keeping their shape well while Senegal dominates proceedings. It appears both sides have taken a cautious approach.
5′ Hossam Abdelmaguid fouls Nicolas Jackson and receives the first yellow card of the match. He will miss the next match.
7′ Corner kick for Senegal. The ball is sent in, but Diarra’s effort goes over the bar.
10′ Egypt burst forward in their first real attack. Salah attempts a through ball, but Senegal’s defense is up to the task.
Friends before football. 🇸🇳🤝🇪🇬#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/DUKR2hGYJh
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
13′ Too many fouls being committed. The game is paused for a while for the two players to receive some medical attention after a collision.
15′ No goal in the first semi-final match after 15 minutes.
17′ Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal) will miss the next game after receiving a yellow card. Big blow for the Lions of Teranga.
20′ Kalidou Koulibaly is down in pain. He appears to have pulled a hamstring. The Senegal captain, after receiving medical attention, will try to carry on.
21′ Hossam Hassan, as usual, is animated on the touchline with his instructions. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, on the other hand, is calm with his hands in his pockets.
22′ It does not look good. Kalidou Koulibaly is unable to continue and has been replaced by Mamadou Sarr.
Senegal and Egypt vie for the opener. Who gets it? 🇸🇳🇪🇬#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WePlayDifferent pic.twitter.com/FyVrZkjoek
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
26′ Senegal now causing problems for the Egypt defense. Ndiaye bursts into the Egypt box but is eventually stopped in his tracks by a good tackle. The match so far has not lived up to expectations.
30′ Lovely turn by Saido Mane to get away from his marker. He plays a one-two with Diarra, who decides to shoot from distance. His effort lacks power and is saved by El-Shenawy.
32′ Shouts for a penalty by the Senegalese supporters after Nicolas Jackson goes down in the box. Referee waves plan on. No penalty.
34′ Mane does some good work on the flanks, sends in a low cross, but is unable to locate Jackson. Easy save for El-Shenawy.
37′ The match is gradually opening match. Egypt continue to defend in numbers, with Senegal enjoying the most share of the possession.
40′ There is an incident involving the technical benches of the two teams. Pape Thiaw and Hossam Hassan are seen showing good leadership and calm their counterparts down to diffuse the situation.
41′ Diarra (Senegal) is shown a yellow card and will miss the next match.
45′ We will do five minutes of additional time. Still goalless in Tangier.
45+5′ Senegal 0-0 Egypt. The first half ends in a goalless stalemate. We will be back after 15 minutes with the second half action.
HALF-TIME! 🇸🇳🇪🇬
The first half ends goalless. #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/oBPzcfePhc
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
Second half:
46′ We are back underway at the Ibn Battouta Stadium in Tangier. Will there be any goal?
Substitution at the break for Senegal. Lamine Camara is on for Habib Diarra. Ahmed Fatouh (Egypt) is also replaced by Trezeguet.
48′ Egypt have pushed more men forward in the first few minutes of the second half than they did in the entire first half.
50′ Senegal 0-0 Egypt.
53′ Senegal back to dominating possession. So far, they have failed to make use of the possession.
55′ Mane applies the pressure on the flanks and wins a corner kick for Senegal.
59′ El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal) sends a wonderful cross from the corner kick. However, the defence works perfectly to clear the ball and avert the threat.
62′ Sadio Mane (Senegal) takes the resultant free kick from the edge of the box and tries to find one of his teammates with a cross, but the keeper climbs high and gets to it first, collecting the ball with ease.
64′ Lamine Camara (Senegal) swings a cross into the box, but it’s far too close to Mohamed El Shenawy, who smothers the ball.
73′ El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal) launches a powerful cross from the corner into the box, but the ball is intercepted by the defender.
74′ Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal) latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and fires in a first-time shot on goal, but the effort lacks accuracy and flies well wide of the left post.
78′ GOOOOOOOOL!!! Sadio Mane has opened the scoring with a stunning drive.
80′ Senegal 1-0 Egypt. Can the Pharaohs find a way back to force the game into extra time?
83′ Senegal are playing with calmness, knowing they need to manage time to see off this tie. Egypt need a miracle at this point.
85′ Five minutes to go. If nothing changes, Senegal will sail into the final.
90′ Senegal 1-0 Egypt. We will do five minutes of additional time.
90+4′ Omar Marmoush tries his luck from distance. His effort, however, goes straight into the arms of Mendy (Senegal goalkeeper.
90+5′ It’s all over in Tangier, Senegal are through to the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Egypt 1-0.
FULL-TIME! 🇸🇳🇪🇬
Sadio Mané wins it for Senegal. #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @tecnomobile pic.twitter.com/wX4LgifPwN
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2026
Senegal will face the winner of the second semi-final match between Nigeria and Morocco.
