Senegal vs Egypt: AFCON 2025 semi-final rivalry renewed tonight
Senegal face Egypt in the 2025 AFCON semi-finals tonight at 6 p.m. Nigerian time at Grande Stade de Tangier. This marks their sixth AFCON meeting and second semi-final clash. Senegal, the 2021 champions, are targeting their fourth final appearance, while Egypt aim for a record 10th final.
Senegal remain unbeaten in their last 16 AFCON matches, scoring in all nine of their tournament games with 11 goals total. Coach Pape Thiaw said: "We want to reach another final and we believe our style of football can take us there." Egypt, seven-time champions, have progressed from their last seven semi-final appearances and are unbeaten in 15 AFCON matches in open play. Captain Mohamed Salah has scored four goals at this tournament and remains pivotal, though he has never scored against Senegal in five previous meetings.
The rivalry extends to former Liverpool teammates Salah and Sadio Mané, who are the joint-highest chance creators at the tournament with 14 and 12 created respectively. Senegal's Kalidou Koulibaly dismissed suspension concerns for seven players one booking away from missing a potential final, stating: "The priority is qualification, regardless of individual situations." With Senegal completing 2,550 passes at 87% accuracy and Egypt scoring nine goals while conceding four—the joint-highest among semi-finalists—this encounter promises another gripping chapter in one of AFCON's most compelling rivalries. History shows winners of their knockout matches often lift the trophy.
Will Senegal's possession dominance and unbeaten run prove too strong, or will Egypt's knockout-stage efficiency and record semi-final experience deliver another final appearance?