Senegal booked their place in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a disciplined and deserved 1–0 victory over Egypt in Tangier on Wednesday, January 14.
In a semi-final dominated from start to finish, the reigning champions once again proved why they are considered the most complete side in the tournament.
The match was decided by a moment of quality from Sadio Mané, who struck the winning goal in the 78th minute.
The forward showed composure and precision as he guided the ball into the bottom corner, sending Senegal into their fourth AFCON final.
From the opening whistle, Senegal controlled the tempo and territory of the game.
They moved the ball confidently, pressed aggressively, and pinned Egypt deep in their own half for long spells.
Egypt, by contrast, adopted a cautious and defensive approach.
Despite boasting attacking stars such as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, they struggled to retain possession or mount any sustained pressure.
Senegal’s midfield dictated play with authority, recycling possession and repeatedly forcing Egypt to defend set pieces.
However, their dominance was not immediately reflected on the scoreboard, as several promising chances went unfinished.
The lack of an early goal kept Egypt marginally alive, allowing them to hope for a counter-attacking breakthrough.
Yet those opportunities rarely materialised, with Senegal’s back line remaining calm and organised.
Remarkably, Egypt failed to register a single shot until the 84th minute.
It was a statistic that summed up their evening and highlighted Senegal’s defensive solidity.
When Egypt finally did test Edouard Mendy late on, the goalkeeper dealt comfortably with the effort.
That moment proved to be Egypt’s only genuine threat in the entire match.
Mané’s goal added another chapter to his legendary AFCON career.
The strike marked his 20th goal involvement at the tournament, a record unmatched since his debut in 2010.
The victory also underlined Senegal’s consistency at the continental level.
They have now reached the final in three of the last four AFCON tournaments, a remarkable achievement.
For Egypt, the defeat extended a painful trend. Despite their rich history, they have now fallen at the knockout stage in five consecutive tournaments, with Salah still searching for his first AFCON title.
Statistically, the match told a clear story. Senegal enjoyed 63 percent possession, completed more than twice as many passes, and outshot Egypt by a significant margin.
Coach Pape Thiaw’s only frustration will be that his side did not finish the match earlier.
Given their control, the scoreline could have been more comfortable.
Attention now turns to the final, where Senegal will face either Nigeria or Morocco.
Both present different challenges, but Senegal will enter the match full of confidence.
As the final whistle blew, Senegal’s players celebrated calmly, aware that their job is not yet finished.
With Mané leading the way, they now stand one win away from lifting the AFCON trophy once again.
