Tangiers, 15 January (H.S.): Sadio Mane etched a poetic denouement to his Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 odyssey on Wednesday, propelling Senegal into the final with a decisive 78th-minute strike that consigned seven-time champions Egypt to a 1-0 semi-final defeat.
The 33-year-old former Liverpool stalwart thus claimed bragging rights over compatriot and Egypt captain Mohamed Salah in their pivotal head-to-head, capping a match where Senegal dominated possession against Egypt's resolute rearguard.
Mane subsequently revealed this as his swan song in the continental showpiece, vowing to crown it with silverware: I am immensely delighted to have competed in my final AFCON; my endeavour shall be to return to Dakar bearing the trophy.Mane's Moment Seals Relentless SiegeFormer champions Senegal methodically dismantled Egypt's cautious containment on Wednesday evening at Tangiers' Stade Ibn Battouta, sustaining territorial supremacy en route to a richly deserved advancement against hosts Morocco in Sunday's summit clash.
Mane's denouement arrived in the 78th minute: Pape Matar Camara's long-range drive deflected fortuitously, teeing up the Al-Nassr forward for a low, precise finish that deceived 37-year-old goalkeeper Mohammed El Shenawi.
Post-whistle, Mane lauded collective discipline: From the outset, we functioned as a cohesive unit, eschewing individual lapses and superfluous infractions; we masterfully navigated the entire encounter and merited the spoils.
He added, Above all, Senegal must prevail each time; as a national soldier, I strive daily in training or combat to deliver my utmost—AFCON ranks among the world's fiercest contests, pitting evenly matched adversaries.
Defensive Duel Neutralises Salah's ThreatEgypt captain Salah endured comprehensive neutralisation by Senegal's impervious backline across his fifth AFCON campaign, where runner-up finishes remain his zenith despite glittering club pedigree. This triumph extends Senegal's head-to-head hegemony, having vanquished Egypt in the 2022 AFCON final and FIFA World Cup playoff via penalty shootouts.
Marking their fourth final appearance, the Teranga Lions seek to supplant 2021 (hosted 2022) glory over Egypt—having endured runner-up reverses to Cameroon (2002) and Algeria (2019). Yet joy tempered with tribulation: veteran centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly accrued a second successive booking in the 17th minute for fouling striker Omar Marmoush, incurring suspension for Rabat's decider, compounded by injury six minutes later necessitating Mamadou Sarr's substitution.
Simmering Fracas Precedes Poise Under Pressure
Tempers flared intermittently amid the cauldron: halftime shadows witnessed acrimonious exchanges and minor scuffles between coaching staffs and benches, diffused by referee intervention restoring equanimity. Senegal's first-half belligerence yielded scant alarms for El Shenawi, sustaining momentum into the resumption where Egypt's defensive carapace permitted possession without penetration until Mane's intervention. Senegal now fixates on historic redemption against Morocco, blending farewell valour with continental supremacy aspirations on Africa's grandest stage.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
