Tangier, Morocco – In a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash, Sadio Mané once again emerged triumphant over his former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah, as Senegal secured a 1-0 victory against Egypt. Mané's late goal propelled Senegal into the final, dashing Salah's hopes of clinching his first Africa Cup title.

The match, held on Wednesday in Tangier, saw Senegal dominate possession and create more opportunities, but Egypt's stubborn defense proved difficult to break down. The first half was a cagey affair, with few clear-cut chances for either side. Senegal suffered a blow when captain Kalidou Koulibaly was forced off injured in the 23rd minute, after picking up a yellow card.

Senegal continued to press in the second half, but Egypt remained resolute. It wasn't until the 78th minute that the deadlock was finally broken. A shot from Lamine Camara was blocked, but the ball fell kindly to Sadio Mané just outside the penalty area. Mané chested the ball down and unleashed a powerful shot into the bottom corner, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Senegalese fans.

Egypt struggled to respond after the goal, managing just one shot on target throughout the entire match. Their first shot didn't come until the 84th minute. Senegal comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure their place in the final.

"We totally deserved this victory," said Senegal defender Moussa Niakhaté. "We suffocated them, we didn't let them play their game, and we also didn't allow ourselves get caught out either. Finally, by pushing constantly, it went in".

This victory marks another chapter in the ongoing rivalry between Mané and Salah on the international stage. Senegal defeated Egypt in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final, with Mané scoring the decisive penalty. Mané also scored the winning penalty in the World Cup qualifying playoff between the two nations.

Senegal will now face either host nation Morocco or Nigeria in the final. Egypt will play the loser of that match in the third-place game.

Mané's goal was his 11th at the Africa Cup of Nations, putting him level with Mohamed Salah. He was also named Man of the Match for his decisive contribution. Senegal have now reached the final in three of the last five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.