A familiar rivalry will be reignited on January 14 when Senegal and Egypt face off in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with a place in the final on the line and echoes of past classics hanging heavily over Tangier.
The heavyweight last-four clash, scheduled for 6pm local time at the Grande Stade de Tangier, pits the 2021 champions Senegal against record seven-time winners Egypt, who are chasing a landmark 10th AFCON final appearance.
It is a meeting steeped in history and symbolism. Senegal and Egypt last crossed paths in an AFCON final in 2021, when the Teranga Lions finally shed their bridesmaid tag by edging the Pharaohs on penalties after a tense goalless draw. Another victory for Senegal would underline their growing dominance, while Egypt will be desperate for revenge as they hunt an eighth continental crown.
Interestingly, whenever these two sides have met in AFCON knockout matches, the winner has gone on to lift the trophy — a pattern seen in 2006 and again in 2021 — adding further intrigue to Wednesday’s encounter.
Senegal arrive with the comfort of familiarity, having played all their matches in Tangier, while Egypt endured long travel spells earlier in the tournament, contesting their opening five games in Agadir before relocating.
This will be the sixth AFCON meeting between the sides. Their head-to-head record at the tournament is perfectly balanced, with both teams having won twice and drawn once, scoring and conceding three goals apiece. Across all competitions, Egypt hold a narrow historical edge, with seven wins to Senegal’s five in 15 encounters.
Their AFCON story stretches back nearly four decades. Senegal stunned hosts Egypt 1–0 in the opening group match of the 1986 tournament in Cairo, though the Pharaohs recovered to win the title.
Egypt struck back in 2000 with a 1–0 group-stage win, courtesy of a goal by current coach Hossam Hassan, before Senegal returned the favour with a similar scoreline at the 2002 edition.
Perhaps the most dramatic AFCON meeting before 2021 came in the 2006 semi-final in Cairo, where Egypt prevailed 2–1 on their way to a fifth title. That match remains the only one in which both sides scored in open play during their AFCON clashes.
Beyond the tournament, the rivalry has continued to deliver high drama. Senegal knocked Egypt out of qualification for the 2015 AFCON, winning both group meetings home and away.
More recently, the two giants collided in the play-offs for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where each side won 1–0 at home before Senegal triumphed on penalties to book a ticket to Qatar.
Penalty shoot-outs have consistently favoured Senegal, who have won both shoot-outs contested between the sides — in the 2021 AFCON final and the World Cup qualifiers — a psychological edge they will hope to exploit again.
Much of the spotlight will fall on former Liverpool teammates Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané. Salah, Egypt’s talisman, has faced Senegal five times without finding the net, while Mané has scored once against the Pharaohs and boasts a stronger record in the fixture.
The duo shared immense success during their five seasons together at Anfield, winning major honours including the Premier League and Champions League, and sharing individual accolades on both the domestic and continental stage.
At the current AFCON, Mané has been one of the tournament’s chief creators, joint-top for chances created, while Salah is not far behind — a reminder that moments of quality could once again decide a finely balanced contest.
With history, pride and a place in the final at stake, Senegal versus Egypt promises another gripping chapter in one of African football’s most compelling rivalries.
