Senegal Silence the Pharaohs: Sadio Mané the Hero Again as Lions Reach AFCON Final

Senegal Silence the Pharaohs: Sadio Mané the Hero Again as Lions Reach AFCON Final
TANGIER, Morocco – In a clash of titans that lived up to its heavyweight billing, Senegal secured their place in the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final with a gritty 1-0 victory over Egypt. The match, played on Wednesday at the Grand Stade de Tanger, saw talisman Sadio Mané once again haunt the Pharaohs, firing home the decisive goal in the 78th minute.
For Senegal, the victory marks their third final appearance in the last five editions, continuing a period of continental dominance. For Egypt and Mohamed Salah, it was a familiar feeling of heartbreak at the hands of their West African rivals.
A Tactical Chess Match
The first half was a masterclass in defensive discipline, particularly from the Egyptian side. Managed by Hossam Hassan, the Pharaohs set up in a stubborn block that stifled Senegal’s creative outlets.
Despite controlling nearly 70% of possession, the Lions of Teranga struggled to find a way through. The half was marred by a significant blow for Senegal when captain Kalidou Koulibaly was forced off with an injury in the 23rd minute. Having already picked up a yellow card earlier in the game, the veteran defender is now confirmed to miss the final due to suspension and injury.
The Breakthrough
As the game moved into the final fifteen minutes, it appeared headed for the same extra-time drama that defined the 2021 final between these two nations. However, Sadio Mané had other plans.
* 78th Minute: A speculative long-range effort from substitute Lamine Camara was deflected by the Egyptian defense.
* The Finish: The ball fell perfectly for Sadio Mané on the edge of the area. With one touch to settle, the Al-Nassr star unleashed a low, powerful drive into the bottom left corner, leaving goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy with no chance.
The goal sent the Senegalese fans into a frenzy and finally forced Egypt to abandon their defensive shell. Despite a late surge and an injury-time effort from Omar Marmoush, the Pharaohs couldn't find an equalizer, finishing the match with only one shot on target.
Match Key Statistics

Redemption and Rivalry
The narrative heading into the match was dominated by the individual rivalry between former Liverpool teammates Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah. While Salah worked tirelessly, he was often isolated by a Senegalese midfield that cut off his supply lines.
Mané’s goal brings his AFCON career tally to 11 goals, moving him level with Salah in the all-time tournament scoring charts. More importantly, it reinforces Senegal's psychological edge over Egypt, following their 2021 AFCON final win and 2022 World Cup qualifying victory.
What’s Next?
Senegal now moves on to the grand finale this Sunday in Rabat, where they will face either Nigeria or the host nation Morocco. They will have to navigate that match without Koulibaly and Habib Diarra, who also picked up a suspension-triggering yellow card.
Egypt, meanwhile, will head to the third-place playoff on Saturday, looking to salvage a bronze medal from what has been a resilient, if ultimately disappointing, campaign.