Senegal vs Egypt: AFCON 2021 Finalists Set To Renew Hostilities
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Road to Glory: How Both Teams Have Fared at AFCON 2025
Senegal came into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with one goal in mind: to be crowned Kings of African football. Considering that they are one of the final four teams to have made it this far, they are closer than ever to realizing that dream.
Living up to expectations in the group stages of this competition despite a minor hiccup, the Lions of Teranga managed to win Group D with seven points to their name, edging out runners-up DR Congo on goal difference despite being deadlocked on points.
Pape Thiaw's men had no trouble in the knockout round, cruising past Sudan in the last 16 and beating a resilient Mali side in the quarter-finals to secure their spot in the semi-final for the fifth time in the nation's history.
It's already a well-known fact that has been repeated way too many times: Egypt's credentials at AFCON are well established. The North African team is the most successful nation in this competition, having lifted the trophy a record seven times.
The Pharaohs found themselves in a competitive group during the group stages, which comprised one-time champions South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe. However, they didn't fail to impress, topping Group B with a one-point cushion.
In the knockout stages, there were signs of discontent from head coach Hossam Hassan regarding the team's performance, with defense being the major talking point. En route to the quarter-finals, they conceded three goals. The final straw came against the Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals, where lapses in concentration saw them concede two unnecessary goals.
However, that didn't stop them from securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Stade Adrar to book their spot in the semi-final. This also ended Ivory Coast's reign as the current defending Africa Cup of Nations champions.
Read our Senegal vs Egypt prediction
Old Foes Meet Again: Revenge or Repeat? AFCON Rivalry Renewed!
Senegal and Egypt are no strangers to each other in the Africa Cup of Nations. So far, they have met five times, meaning Wednesday's meeting marks the sixth time they have crossed paths at this competition.
There has been nothing to separate these two heavyweights in African football, with two wins apiece and one draw. Even on the goals fired and against, it has been level with three goals scored and three goals conceded.
Their last meeting was in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was in the final, and Senegal emerged victorious in that match after winning 4-2 on penalties to lift their first-ever major continental trophy.
On the other hand, this denied Egypt a record eighth title. The Pharaohs are out to right their wrongs with a triumph as they seek to exact revenge for that loss. Can head coach Hossam Hassan and three-time AFCON champion right the wrongs of the past? Check out what our experts have to say in our Senegal vs Egypt prediction for more insights.
Egypt is already the second favorite to win the competition after slaying the reigning AFCON champions Ivory Coast, in the quarter-finals, with Morocco taking the top spot as the host nation. However, little faith has been placed on the Pharaohs to come out of this matchup unscathed despite holding a slight upper hand in overall meetings against Senegal (W7, D3, L5).
The Potent Wingers Collide: Sadio Mane vs. Mohamed Salah
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are also no strangers to each other. Between 2017 and 2022, for five seasons, they played for Premier League club Liverpool together and were considered one of the most lethal attacking duos to grace Anfield.
Fast forward four years, and they find themselves on opposite sides of the fence once again, fighting for glory. Sadio Mane has not been generating a lot of buzz lately in this competition, but he has actually contributed significantly to Senegal's success.
Mane has been the provider of the goals, dishing out three assists in his last five appearances. Taking into account his equalizer against DR Congo in the group stages, this means he has been involved in four goal involvements at AFCON 2025. In his last four editions, he has scored nine goals and provided four assists.
The 2017 African Footballer of the Year and Egypt's talisman, Mohamed Salah, has been instrumental to his nation's success at AFCON 2025.
Salah has faced a plethora of criticism due to his dwindling form at Liverpool this season. However, in this competition, he has undeniably silenced his critics.
The Egyptian King has managed to register four goals and one assist in his last five appearances. Two strikes were match-winning goals (excl. ET) against Zimbabwe and South Africa in the group stages.
