Senegal beat Egypt 1-0 in Tangier, Morocco, to seal its place within the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) closing.
The end result 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.Â
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 strategy
Senegal and Egypt are not any strangers on the worldwide stage. The 2 sides met within the AFCON closing in 2022, then confronted off months later within the closing phases 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 strategy, specializing in a compact midfield construction and a near-impenetrable low defensive block.Â
Small, under-resourced groups typically use ways like these to go toe-to-toe with robust opponents. It wasn’t stunning to see them deployed on the AFCON stage. It was stunning, 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 current historical past between the 2 sides stored it from displaying that.Â
Egypt did not lose this match on the sector. It misplaced it inside its personal head.
The top of the Mohamed Salah period?
Egypt is one among Africa’s strongest groups, and striker Mohamed Salah is one among Africa’s strongest gamers, however extremely, the 2 have not managed to indicate a lot energy collectively. Egypt and Salah have by no means gained AFCON collectively, and with this end result on the books, they might by no means handle it.Â
Salah is 33 and nearing the top 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 presupposed to be Salah’s large breakout second, his likelihood to show to Liverpool (and himself) that he is nonetheless one of many world’s best strikers. It did not fairly shake out that manner.
Was Salah good on this AFCON match? Positive, in flashes. He scored a couple of key objectives within the group phases and all the time appeared desirous to help his teammates. However on this key semifinal in opposition to Senegal, Salah was all however absent. Precise objectives? Zero. Anticipated objectives? Zero. Photographs on course? Zero. Photographs, interval? Zero. Salah did not even handle to the touch the ball inside Senegal’s penalty field. He may as properly 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 properly. Lionel Messi was 35 when he led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022; Salah would be the similar age when Egypt returns to AFCON in 2027.
We may even see Salah at AFCON once more. However after his efficiency on this semifinal, it is value asking whether or not or not we must always.
Senegal will face Morocco within the AFCON closing in Rabat on Sunday, Jan. 18. It is Senegal’s fourth look in an AFCON closing; if it wins, it’ll take dwelling simply its second AFCON trophy in historical past.
