Sadio Mane scored the decisive goal as Senegal defeated Egypt 1-0 to book their place in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The former Liverpool winger struck with 12 minutes remaining in a tense semi-final encounter in Tangier, firing a right-footed effort inside the left-hand upright after the ball broke kindly to him just outside the box.

It was a cagey contest for long spells, but Mané’s moment of quality proved decisive, sending the reigning African champions into another AFCON final.

Read Also: Winning the AFCON twice would be special- Mane

The goal marked the third time Mané has got the better of his former Liverpool teammate Salah in a major international clash.

The previous two occasions came in 2022, when Senegal defeated Egypt on penalties in both the AFCON final and the FIFA World Cup play-off.

Salah, who had scored four goals on Egypt’s run to the semi-finals, was largely subdued and unable to influence the game.

The Pharaohs failed to seriously test Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy until Omar Marmoush forced a save with a long-range effort deep into stoppage time.

Senegal will now face either Nigeria or hosts Morocco in Sunday’s final. Nigeria and Morocco meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday night in Rabat.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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