Sadio Mane outshines Mohamed Salah; Morocco overcome Nigeria in shootout to set up AFCON final

The first semi-final saw Morocco face Nigeria in a clash between two title contenders. Despite an intense contest, neither side managed to find the net in 90 minutes or extra time. AFCON top scorer Brahim Díaz came closest for Morocco with a shot that drifted narrowly wide, while Nigerian star Victor Osimhen was tightly marked throughout and struggled to make an impact.

The match was decided on penalties, where Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero with two outstanding saves. Morocco missed only one spot-kick, taken by Hamza Igamane. For Nigeria, Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi both failed to convert, while Neil El Aynaoui and Paul Onuachu scored their efforts. Youssef En-Nesyri then calmly converted the decisive penalty to send Morocco into their first AFCON final in 21 years.

Bounou, named TotalEnergies Man of the Match, said after the game: “The atmosphere during the match was wonderful. I thank all the fans who supported us. The players did what was required in a match that was not easy at all, and the opponent delivered a very strong performance.”

In the second semi-final, Senegal edged past Egypt in a highly anticipated duel between Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah. The first half was tightly contested, with Egypt sitting deep and frustrating Senegal’s attacking efforts. Senegal suffered a setback in the 23rd minute when captain Kalidou Koulibaly was forced off through injury.

The pattern continued after the break, with Senegal dominating possession and Egypt defending in numbers. The breakthrough finally arrived when Marwan Attia failed to track Mané, allowing the Al Nassr winger to strike from outside the box. Egypt pushed for an equaliser late on but were unable to find a way through, as Senegal held on for a 1-0 victory.

Speaking after the match, Mané said: “From the start, we did it together. We avoided making individual errors or committing unnecessary fouls. I think we managed the game well from start to finish and, overall, we deserved to win. We have to be honest about the final and I think all the teams are amazing. We’ll see, and we’ll try to be ready for the final, above all to give our best.”

The AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco will take place on 19 January 2026 at 2:00 AM (GMT+7). Before that, Egypt and Nigeria will contest the third-place match at 11:00 PM on 17 January.