Tangier, Morocco – The Grand Stade de Tanger is set to host a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 semi-final clash between Senegal and Egypt on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. This highly anticipated match marks another chapter in the storied rivalry between these two footballing giants and sees Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, former Liverpool teammates, facing off on the international stage once again.
Senegal, the reigning AFCON champions from 2021, are aiming to secure their place in a second final in three editions. They reached the semi-finals after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mali, with Iliman Ndiaye scoring the decisive goal. The Lions of Teranga, coached by Pape Thiaw, have displayed a blend of physical prowess and technical skill throughout the tournament, maintaining a strong attacking presence while remaining disciplined defensively. Key players like Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Idrissa Gana Gueye are expected to play crucial roles.
Egypt, the record seven-time AFCON champions, are determined to reclaim their status as the kings of African football. The Pharaohs, led by coach Hossam Hassan, secured their semi-final berth with a dramatic 3-2 victory over defending champions Cote d'Ivoire. Mohamed Salah, who scored a goal and provided an assist in the quarter-final, will spearhead the Egyptian attack, supported by a strong cast including Omar Marmoush and Mahmoud Trezeguet. The Egyptian squad features a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, with eleven players making their AFCON debut.
The upcoming match is the sixth AFCON meeting between Senegal and Egypt. In their previous five encounters, each team has won two games. Their most recent AFCON clash was in the 2021 final, where Senegal emerged victorious after a penalty shootout. The two sides also met in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Senegal again prevailed on penalties.
The rivalry between Salah and Mané adds another layer of intrigue to this semi-final showdown. Although they shared a successful partnership at Liverpool, winning numerous trophies together, their relationship was reportedly not always close. On the international stage, Mané's Senegal has often had the upper hand, inflicting painful defeats on Salah's Egypt in crucial encounters. Salah has faced Senegal five times without scoring, recording one win, one draw, and three defeats. Mané has one goal in five appearances against Egypt, with three wins, one draw, and one defeat.
Both teams are approaching the match with respect and determination. Senegal aims to continue their impressive run and secure a place in their second final in three editions. Egypt, on the other hand, is eager to end their AFCON title drought, which dates back to 2010.
The match kicks off at 6:00 p.m. local time. The winner will advance to the final on Sunday, January 18, to face either Morocco or Nigeria.
