Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Senegal once again proved to be Egypt’s nemesis at the Africa Cup of Nations, edging the Pharaohs 1-0 in the semifinal on Wednesday and securing a spot in the final. The lone goal came from Sadio Mané in the 78th minute, a precise strike from the edge of the penalty area that sealed Senegal’s victory and set up a showdown with the winner of Morocco versus Nigeria.
The defeat extends Egypt’s long-standing struggles against Senegal, recalling painful losses in recent years, including the 2021 AFCON final and the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Despite a spirited start, the Pharaohs could not break through Senegal’s disciplined defense.
The match began with high intensity. Egypt’s Hussam Abdel-Meguid received an early yellow card in the seventh minute for a foul on Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson. By the 11th minute, Egypt started pushing forward, testing Senegal’s backline, but early attempts failed to create serious scoring opportunities.
Omar Marmoush came closest to opening the scoring in the 16th minute but was impeded by Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who was booked for the foul. Jackson responded with a shot over the crossbar in the 19th minute, while Senegal had to make an early defensive change when Koulibaly left the pitch with an injury in the 23rd minute, replaced by Mamadou Sarr.
Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy remained alert as Habib Diarra and Bab Jaye attempted shots in the 31st and 33rd minutes, both easily collected. Tensions flared briefly in the 38th minute following skirmishes between the coaching staff of both teams, but officials quickly regained control.
The second half saw Egypt make tactical adjustments, with Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet replacing Ahmed Fathy early on. El-Shenawy made another key save in the 57th minute, while Senegal increasingly dominated possession, limiting Egypt’s ability to build attacks. Elimane Ndiaye tested the Egyptian defense again in the 74th minute, but the ball narrowly missed the target.
The breakthrough came in the 78th minute when Sadio Mané capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire a low, powerful shot into the net. Egyptian players protested a possible handball in the buildup, but the referee allowed the goal to stand.
In the closing stages, Egypt attempted a late comeback with substitutions including Zizo, Mustafa Mohamed, and Mohamed Salah, but chances went wide or were blocked. A final opportunity arose in stoppage time after a defensive error by Senegal’s Idrissa Gaye, but the referee called a foul, ending Egypt’s hopes.
Senegal’s victory continues a pattern of heartbreak for Egypt against West African opponents in recent tournaments and underscores the challenges the Pharaohs face in reclaiming continental glory. With Mané and his teammates advancing to the final, Egypt’s campaign ends in frustration, leaving questions about squad depth and tactical adaptability as the team looks ahead to future competitions.
