Image Credits: Imago Images
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are set for what could be their final showdown when Egypt face Senegal in Wednesday’s AFCON 2025 semi-final at the Grand Stade de Tanger. Now both 33 years of age, this blockbuster rematch of the 2021 final represents perhaps the last chance the two Liverpool legends face off on Africa’s biggest stage.
Their relationship at Anfield was marked by mutual respect rather than genuine friendship. In his autobiography “Sí Señor”, Roberto Firmino lifted the lid on the dynamic between his former teammates, revealing: “They were never best friends; each kept himself to himself. It was rare to see the two of them talking and I’m not sure if that had to do with the Egypt–Senegal rivalry in African competitions”.
Now, four years after Mane converted the winning penalty in the 2021 AFCON final—denying Salah even the chance to take Egypt’s fifth kick—the stakes are equally high. Salah has four goals at this tournament and is desperate to finally lift the only trophy missing from his glittering résumé. Mane, meanwhile, seeks to guide Senegal back to continental glory and potentially deny his old rival once more.
And according to Ferdinand Kouli, a former Senegal national team player and teammate of Mane, the Al-Nassr star is preparing in a special way. Speaking to WinWin Sports, Kouli feels that Mane is focusing on preparing mentally for the clash:
“I think Sadio Mane is particularly prepared for that clash with Salah psychologically, yes, it’s a game, and whatever that may be, the tension is very strong. He knows that the whole world is waiting for this match, even if it is not a direct match, it is a match within a match.”
“Mentally, Mane will treat this match with special attention and not like any other match, because the Senegalese players know that facing Egypt is never easy, and it is not just Sadio Mane, but it includes the entire team, and even the entire Senegalese people, who know that they will face a very difficult opponent, and it will not be easy at all.”
“All the matches that Senegal have played against Egypt have always been very difficult, but the match will be decided in the finer details, and they will have to make as few mistakes as possible in order to get past the Egyptian team.”
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