Senegal has secured its place in the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mohamed Salah’s Egypt at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier.
In a rematch of iconic African rivals, it was once again Sadio Mané who proved to be the difference-maker. The former Liverpool talisman struck late in the second half to break Egyptian hearts and keep Senegal’s dreams of continental glory alive.
Dominance Without Precision
From the opening whistle, Senegal dictated the tempo. The “Lions of Teranga” dominated possession and lived in Egypt’s attacking third, but struggled to find the clinical final touch. The first half remained deadlocked, with Mohamed El Shenawy making several routine saves to keep the Pharaohs level.
The half ended in controversy when the referee blew the whistle for halftime just as Senegal was about to take a corner, following a change of kicker that consumed the remaining stoppage time.
Injury Blow and Tactical Changes
Senegal faced an early setback in the 23rd minute when captain Kalidou Koulibaly was forced off due to injury. He was replaced by Mamadou Sarr, raising concerns about the veteran defender’s availability for Sunday’s grand final.
Both managers turned to their benches at halftime to break the stalemate. Senegal introduced Câmara for Diarra, while Egypt brought on Trezeguet to provide more offensive spark. Despite the changes, the pattern of the match remained: Senegal controlled the pace, while Egypt looked to hit on the counter through Salah.
The Mané Moment
The deadlock was finally broken in the 78th minute (33′ of the second half). After a patient buildup and a sequence of precise passes, the ball found Sadio Mané at the edge of the box. The striker unleashed a powerful medium-range shot that beat El Shenawy, sparking wild celebrations in the stands.
Egypt attempted a desperate late surge, but the Senegalese defense stood firm to punch their ticket to the final.
WE’RE IN THE FINAL. 🇸🇳 ❤️🔥
Senegal did it. 💪🦁EN FINALE. 🇸🇳 ❤️🔥
Le Sénégal l’a fait. 💪🦁Rien n’a été donné. Tout a été gagné.
Encore une marche… direction la finale.🇸🇳🦁 Let’s go Lions!#Senegal #LionsOfTeranga #FinalBound #AFCON2025 #Pride pic.twitter.com/GXmf7unZzF
— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) January 14, 2026
Final Destination
Senegal now awaits the winner of the second semifinal between Morocco and Nigeria. The grand final is scheduled for Sunday, January 18, at 7 PM (UK Time).
