On January 14, 2026, in Tangiers, Morocco, Senegal beat Egypt 1–0 to book a place in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final. The moment that decided it came in the 78th minute, when Sadio Mané chested down a loose ball and drilled a low shot past Mohamed El Shenawy. It was a cool, quick finish from Senegal’s star, and it sent the holders back to the big stage.

This semifinal had storylines everywhere: a heavyweight clash, a tight scoreline, and the rematch of the 2021 final. Back then, Senegal won on penalties, and Mané scored the deciding kick. Here, he did the damage in open play, ending former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah’s hopes of a first AFCON crown.

Mané delivers when it matters most

Big players often decide big games with one clean touch and one clean strike. Mané did exactly that. He showed calm control under pressure, brought the ball down with his chest, and picked the corner before Egypt’s defense could recover. It was a sharp, simple act, but it broke a tense game wide open.

For Senegal, this is why Mané is their leader in big moments. He did it in 2021 from the spot. He did it again in Tangiers from the run of play. With the clock ticking and a place in Rabat on the line, the No. 10 found the difference.

“Egypt had zero shots on target in a semifinal—that’s not bad luck, that’s control.”

Egypt’s attack falls flat; Salah kept quiet

Egypt’s night was defined by what they did not do. They finished with one shot on target. For a team chasing a record-extending eighth title, that is a hard stat to take. Salah, their captain and talisman, was kept quiet by disciplined defending. He had little space to run and few chances to pass into danger areas.

In knockout football, you need moments of quality in the final third. Egypt did not find them. The result also marked their first loss in an AFCON semifinal in 42 years, a reminder of how rare this kind of off-night has been for the Pharaohs.

“No Koulibaly in the final is huge, but Egypt not testing the keeper even once was the bigger story.”

Rivalry renewed: echoes of the 2021 AFCON final

This was not just another semifinal. It was a rerun of a recent, high-pressure duel. In 2021, Senegal and Egypt went all the way to a penalty shootout, and Mané scored the winner. The matchup still carries that edge. These two teams know each other well. They know the margin is thin and the difference often comes down to one clean chance.

Senegal arrived in Tangiers unbeaten at this tournament, and it showed. Their calm play, even after the red card, built on the confidence of champions. Egypt, for all their history and will, could not turn the game their way.

What’s next: the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat

Senegal now head to Rabat for Sunday’s final, where they will face either Nigeria or hosts Morocco. It is Senegal’s third final in the last four AFCON tournaments, a run that underlines their rise to the top tier of African football.

There is one big problem, though: Koulibaly will be suspended for the final after his sending-off. That means Senegal will have to adjust at the back. Even so, their balance, their game plan, and their belief remain strong. With Mané in form and the midfield able to slow games down, they will back themselves against anyone.

Why this win matters

On the surface, this is a 1–0 knockout win. Look a little deeper, and it is a statement of control. Senegal shut down a title giant, blanked a top attack, and found the winning play when it counted. That is the formula of champions.

For Egypt, the loss will sting. A semifinal exit after such a strong history in this stage is rare. But the lesson is clear: in games like this, you must test the goalkeeper. On this night, they did not, and the chance to chase an eighth title slipped away.

The bigger picture for AFCON 2025

AFCON often turns on fine margins: one red card, one moment of skill, one shot on target. Senegal lived those margins and still came through. They showed patience, calm heads, and a match-winner’s touch from Mané. As reported by beIN SPORTS, the late strike sealed a place in the final and set up a blockbuster finish in Rabat.

Sunday will bring a new challenge and a new story. Will Senegal go back-to-back? Can they solve the Koulibaly gap for one more game? One thing is sure: with Mané in this mood and a team built to manage tense minutes, the champions will step into the final with belief and a clear plan.

In Tangiers, a single goal told the tale. In Rabat, a trophy will write the ending.