Africa’s biggest football tournament is down to the sharp end, and Wednesday night brings a matchup that feels like a final in disguise. Egypt, kings of AFCON history, face Senegal, the pre-tournament favourites, with a place in the final on the line.
This one carries history, pressure, and plenty of nerves.
A rivalry shaped by recent heartbreak and unfinished business
Egypt and Senegal don’t meet often at this stage, but when they do, memories linger. Their most recent AFCON knockout encounter still stings in Cairo. Senegal edged Egypt on penalties in the 2021 final, denying the Pharaohs what would have been a record-breaking eighth title.
That loss still hangs in the air.
For Egypt, this semifinal is about redemption as much as progress. For Senegal, it is about proving dominance wasn’t a one-off moment but a sustained era.
The match takes place at Ibn Batouta Stadium, a venue that has already hosted several tense AFCON nights. Kick-off is set for 6pm local time, 17:00 GMT, under lights that tend to amplify every mistake and every roar.
Neutral venue, yes. Neutral emotions, not even close.
Salah’s moment, again, feels right on time
Every big Egypt match eventually circles back to one name: Mohamed Salah.
At 33, this may not be his last AFCON, but it feels like one of his best chances. He has dragged Egypt through tight games before, sometimes almost single-handedly. The hunger is obvious. So is the frustration of past near-misses.
Salah has been direct, sharp, and relentless in Morocco. He is scoring, creating, pressing. Even when he doesn’t touch the ball, defenders behave differently.
This tournament matters to him. You can see it.
Egypt’s approach has been pragmatic rather than flashy. Solid shape. Patience. Long spells without the ball. Then a quick strike. It’s not pretty, but it works, and Salah thrives in those moments when chaos opens space.
One sentence sums it up.
If Egypt win, he will be at the centre of it.
Senegal arrive with depth, belief, and pressure of expectation
Senegal came into AFCON 2025 as favourites, and they’ve largely played like it. Balanced squad. Physical midfield. Pace out wide. Confidence that shows even when games get tight.
They have rotated without losing structure. That matters late in tournaments.
The Lions of Teranga don’t rely on one player. They never really have. Goals can come from midfield runners, set pieces, or quick breaks. That variety makes them dangerous.
Yet expectations cut both ways.
Anything short of the final will be viewed as a disappointment back home. Senegal know this. Players talk about it carefully, but you can feel the weight.
Still, they look calm. Maybe too calm. Or maybe that’s exactly what champions look like.
Team news: injuries, doubts, and likely calls
Both sides arrive with relatively clean bills of health, which is rare this late in AFCON.
Egypt have managed Salah’s workload carefully. He is fit. He starts. No debate there.
Defensively, Egypt are expected to stick with the same back line that shut down Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals. Compact, disciplined, not adventurous.
Senegal, meanwhile, are monitoring a minor knock to one midfielder, but sources close to the camp suggest it’s nothing serious. Their first-choice XI should be available.
Managers on both benches are expected to lean on experience rather than experiment.
It’s a semifinal. Nobody gets clever here.
Expected lineups as the tension builds
This is how the two sides are likely to line up when the teams walk out in Tangier:
Egypt (4-3-3):
El Shenawy; Hany, Abdelmonem, Hamdi, Fatouh; Elneny, Hamada, Ashour; Salah, Mostafa Mohamed, Trezeguet
Senegal (4-2-3-1):
Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Jakobs; Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr; Ismaila Sarr, Ndiaye, Mané; Dia
Lineups can shift. Roles can change mid-game. But these shapes tell a story.
Egypt will absorb. Senegal will push.
Something has to give.
Tactical battle likely decided in small moments
This will not be an open, end-to-end spectacle. Anyone expecting that hasn’t watched enough AFCON semifinals.
Egypt will sit deep in phases, inviting pressure, waiting for a mistake. Senegal will try to stretch the pitch, pull defenders wide, and attack the box early.
Set pieces could be huge.
So could a single turnover in midfield.
Refereeing will matter too. Early yellow cards can change how aggressively teams press. One soft foul, one missed call, and the tone shifts.
That’s AFCON. It lives on margins.
What history says, and why it may not matter
Egypt are AFCON’s most successful nation. Seven titles. No one else is close.
Senegal are the reigning champions. Confident. Battle-tested.
History leans one way. Momentum leans the other.
In knockout football, especially at this level, those trends often cancel each other out. Players know the stakes. Fans know the stakes. Coaches feel it in their sleep.
Extra time feels possible. Penalties, again, wouldn’t shock anyone.
There is no easy script here.
How to follow the match live
Coverage begins well before kick-off.
Fans can follow full build-up and live text commentary via Al Jazeera Sport, starting from 14:00 GMT. Team news, tactical notes, and minute-by-minute updates will carry the night.
