Senegal beat Egypt 1-0 in Tangier, Morocco, to seal its place within the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last.
The outcome eliminates Egypt — essentially the most profitable staff in AFCON historical past — from the competitors.
Al-Nassr striker Sadio Mane scored Senegal’s breakthrough aim within the 78th minute. He took benefit of a botched Egyptian defensive play to laser a long-distance shot previous goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
It was a second of brilliance from the previous Liverpool man, and an indication that the 33-year-old nonetheless has a serious half to play in Senegal’s worldwide ascent.
Fraught historical past yields a conservative method
Senegal and Egypt aren’t any strangers on the worldwide stage. The 2 sides met within the AFCON last in 2022, then confronted off months later within the last levels of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It was Senegal— led, once more, by Sadio Mane — who emerged victorious from each encounters.
It was apparent from kickoff that Egypt remembered, and certainly feared, Senegal from these two events. Coach Hossam Hassan opted for a head-scratchingly conservative method, specializing in a compact midfield construction and a near-impenetrable low defensive block.
Small, under-resourced groups usually use ways like these to go toe-to-toe with sturdy opponents. It wasn’t shocking to see them deployed on the AFCON stage. It was shocking, nonetheless, to see them deployed by Egypt, a staff that’s neither small nor under-resourced within the slightest. It was wild watching the winningest staff in African historical past look so totally spooked.
That is worldwide soccer for you. Egypt, on its day, is able to matching and even beating Senegal, however the weighty latest historical past between the 2 sides stored it from exhibiting that.
Egypt did not lose this match on the sphere. It misplaced it inside its personal head.
The tip of the Mohamed Salah period?
Egypt is considered one of Africa’s strongest groups, and striker Mohamed Salah is considered one of Africa’s strongest gamers, however extremely, the 2 have not managed to point out a lot power collectively. Egypt and Salah have by no means gained AFCON collectively, and with this outcome on the books, they might by no means handle it.
Salah is 33 and nearing the tip of his top-flight skilled profession. He is struggled within the Premier League with Liverpool this season and has fallen out of favor with coach Arne Slot. This AFCON run was purported to be Salah’s large breakout second, his likelihood to show to Liverpool (and himself) that he is nonetheless one of many world’s most interesting strikers. It did not fairly shake out that manner.
Was Salah good on this AFCON event? Positive, in flashes. He scored a number of key objectives within the group levels and at all times appeared desperate to help his teammates. However on this key semifinal towards Senegal, Salah was all but absent. Precise objectives? Zero. Anticipated objectives? Zero. Photographs on track? Zero. Photographs, interval? Zero. Salah did not even handle to the touch the ball inside Senegal’s penalty field. He may as effectively have simply stayed in Egypt’s locker room.
At 33, Salah is a veteran, however definitely not a retiree. Loads of older gamers have proven up for his or her nationwide groups and proven up effectively. Lionel Messi was 35 when he led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022; Salah would be the identical age when Egypt returns to AFCON in 2027.
We might even see Salah at AFCON once more. However after his efficiency on this semifinal, it is price asking whether or not or not we must always.
Senegal will face Morocco within the AFCON last in Rabat on Sunday, Jan. 18. It is Senegal’s fourth look in an AFCON last; if it wins, it’ll take dwelling simply its second AFCON trophy in historical past.
