Mane leads Senegal to AFCON final
by KickOff Reporter · KickOffSenegal overcame Egypt 1-0 and advanced to the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday evening.
The Pharaohs were unchanged from the quarter-final win over Ivory Coast, while Nicolas Jackson was back in for the Teranga Lions and replaced Habib Diallo.
Jackson was keen to make his presence felt on his return in the opening minutes and got around the area to get a shot in which fizzled narrowly over target.
The Teranga Lions were soon thrown into jeopardy after being forced to withdraw Kalidou Koulibaly, who had picked up an injury and introduced Mamadou Sarr.
It remained a tense encounter as the Pharaohs sat deep in their own half, soaked up the pressure and looked to spring a surprise on the counter-attack.
Both teams made substitutions at halftime, with the Lions bringing on Lamine Camara for Habib Diarra while Pharaohs the introduced Trezeguet for Ahmed Fotouh.
Camara went close to unlocking the Pharaohs earlier in the second half, but he saw his low shot outside the area parried by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
Egypt began to come forward after a quiet first half, but were unable to find spaces to penetrate and get talisman Mohamed Salah on the ball.
Captain Sadio Mane broke the Pharaohs' resistance inside the last ten minutes when he powered in the near corner from a loose ball outside the area.
The Pharaohs went searching for the equaliser with full-time looming, but the Lions held on to see out the win and confirmed their spot in the final.