Senegal pulls out a gritty 1-0 win over Egypt in the AFCON semifinals. Star forward Sadio Mane, fresh off his African championship victory with Senegal, scored a late goal to cement the win. Then in the 78th minute Mane finished clinically with a right footed shot like a trace of lightning into the back of the net. This stunning goal sealed Senegal’s place in the final, where they’ll face Morocco or Nigeria.
The game, played at the Stade de la Réunification in Douala, emphasised Senegal’s quality on the ball. Egypt’s tactical discipline and organization meant that they were able to withstand all of the pressure comfortably for nearly 80 minutes. Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, had doubted his players’ ability to keep the game under control. His squad had a hard time converting their possession into clear scoring opportunities early on.
Before Mane’s goal, Senegal created several chances. In fact, special credit should be given to Habib Diarra and Pape Gueye who both had shots on target saved by Egypt’s keeper. Nicolas Jackson too blew an opportunity when he shot over the crossbar. Things got heated when Egyptian star Mohamed Salah slapped Mane. This led to a heated verbal exchange with players on both sides and heightened tension on the field.
Egypt’s coach, Hossam Hassan, was forced to sit back and see his team’s fragile attacking threat crumble for much of the match. It took until the dying minutes of the match for Egypt to even have a shot on goal. Even with their ultra-defensive approach, they could not sniff an equalizer after Mane’s late winner.
Beyond that remarkable victory, Senegal suffered defeats. Key defender Kalidou Koulibaly is out through suspension and injury for the final. This absence would be a killer blow to their defensive line against a brutal opponent. With Koulibaly’s departure, Thiaw gains added responsibility. He’s got to get his team together now to play in the title game.
Mane’s early strike not only secured the victory but highlighted his crucial importance to Senegal’s World Cup journey. As a player with immense quality and experience, he was critical in a tie where the most mentally strong and composed would win.
