Mane takes dominant Senegal past Egypt into AFCON final

Tangiers, Morocco: Sadio Mane scored a 78th minute winner to giveSenegala 1 0 victory over Egypt on Wednesday in their Africa Cup of Nations semi fina...

Tangiers, Morocco: Sadio Mane scored a 78th-minute winner to give Senegal a 1-0 victory over Egypt on Wednesday in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Tangiers.

Former champions Senegal dominated possession against cautious Egypt and will face hosts Morocco or Nigeria on Sunday in the final.

The result maintained the dominance of Senegal over Egypt. The Teranga Lions beat the Pharaohs in the 2022 AFCON final and in a 2022 World Cup play-off. Both victories came after penalty shoot-outs.

Senegal's forward #10 Sadio Mane celebrates his goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) semi-final football match between Senegal and Egypt at the Grand stadium in Tangiers on January 14, 2026. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah was well contained by the Senegal defence. This was his fifth AFCON and the closest he has come to a winners' medal is finishing a runner-up twice.