Tangier, Morocco, January 14, 2026, 20:26 (GMT+1)
- Sadio Mane scored in the 78th minute as Senegal beat Egypt 1-0 in Tangier
- Egypt failed to register a shot or win a corner before conceding
- Senegal will meet Morocco or Nigeria in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final
Senegal booked a place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on Wednesday after Sadio Mane struck late to beat Egypt 1-0 in Tangier. Egypt did not manage a shot or even force a corner before they fell behind, as Mane hit from the edge of the area after a deflection broke kindly for him. (Reuters)
The win puts Senegal into Sunday’s final, where they will face either hosts Morocco or Nigeria. Senegal dominated possession for long spells against a cautious Egypt and finally made it count. (Al Jazeera)
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan had called the month-long tournament in Morocco “a ferocious tournament” and said the semi-final could be “decided on the small details.” He also swatted away criticism of his team’s narrow wins — “I don’t give a damn about that,” he told reporters — while teammate Mahmoud Trezeguet described Mohamed Salah as “the best player out there.” (Reuters)
The last four also underlined a wider shift at this year’s finals, with all four semi-finalists led by African coaches. Former Ghana international Kwesi Appiah said African coaches had long been overlooked, but added there was a “responsibility” to “prove their worth with hard work.” (Reuters)
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw had promised “respect and ambition” against what he called a “seven-star” Egypt and said his team would stay true to its playing philosophy. He got the ambition, but the breakthrough still took 78 minutes. (Ahram Online)
Off the pitch, Senegal’s national airline offered an all-expenses-paid trip to Morocco for a supporter who went viral for shining a laser pointer during a 2022 penalty shootout against Egypt. The airline’s message described him as a lucky charm, according to Senegalese news site Seneweb. (Seneweb)
Senegal and Egypt have made a habit of meeting when the stakes climb, including the 2022 Cup of Nations final and a two-legged World Cup playoff, both settled on penalties. Senegal came out on top in each case. (The Guardian)
But Senegal may need more than control in the final. They held the ball and squeezed Egypt back for much of the night, yet created little that was clean, and the winner came only after a fortunate deflection.
Morocco and Nigeria play the second semi-final later on Wednesday, and Nigeria coach Eric Chelle suggested his side might sit deep and counter because his squad was tired. “We might let Morocco have the ball and wait for them,” he told reporters. (Flashscore)
