By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Sadio Mane scored a 78th-minute winner to give Senegal a 1-0 victory over Egypt on Wednesday in their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) semi-final in Tangier.
Mane struck the only goal of a cagey contest, firing a right-footed shot inside the left-hand upright after the ball broke to him outside the box.
It marks the third occasion that the Senegal forward has got the better of his former Liverpool team-mate, Mohamed Salah in a high-stakes international match.
Both of those previous wins came four years ago, as the West Africans beat the Pharaohs on penalties in both the final of the 2021 Afcon and a play-off for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
Salah was well contained by the Senegal defence. This was his fifth AFCON and the closest he has come to a winners’ medal is finishing a runner-up twice.
Veteran Senegal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly was yellow-carded after 17 minutes for fouling Egypt striker Omar Marmoush. It was his second booking in as many matches and ruled him out of the final.
Both teams made changes for the second half. Egypt replaced Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh with Mahmoud Trezeguet Hassan and Senegal introduced Lamine Camara for Habib Diallo, who had been cautioned.
With 15 minutes of regular time remaining, Egypt had not had a goal attempt on target nor had they forced a corner.
Finally, with 12 minutes remaining, the Senegalese pressure was rewarded with two-time African player of the Year Mane scoring.
Senegal will face either Nigeria or Morocco in the final on Sunday, with the West Africans taking on the hosts in Wednesday’s second semi-final in Rabat (22:00).
Meanwhile former Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi has been appointed as Tunisia’s new coach, the country’s football association announced on Wednesday.
The 54-year-old French coach, who has also managed Cardiff City and Ivory Coast, will replace Sami Trabelsi, who left his role following Tunisia’s last-16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.