SADIO Mane netted the winner as Senegal defeated Egypt 1-0 tonight to reach the final of the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tangier.
The result ended Mohamed Salah’s hopes of winning his first continental title with the Pharaohs.
Mane struck the only goal of a cagey contest with 12 minutes remaining in Tangier, firing a right-footed shot inside the left-hand upright after the ball broke to him outside the box.
It marks the third occasion that the Senegal forward has got the better of his former Liverpool team-mate in a high-stakes international match.
Both of those previous victories came four years ago, as the West Africans beat the Pharaohs on penalties in both the final of the 2021 AFCON and a play-off for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Salah had scored four goals in Egypt’s run to the semi-finals but was largely anonymous as the North Africans failed to test Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy until Omar Marmoush had a long-range effort saved in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The Terenga Lions will face either the Super Eagles of Nigeria or Morocco in the final on Sunday.