Image Credits: Imago Images
Sadio Mane has once again crushed Mohamed Salah’s international ambitions, with Wednesday’s 1-0 AFCON 2025 semi-final victory marking the third consecutive triumph over his former Liverpool teammate in high-stakes tournament football. The 78th-minute winner that sent Senegal to Sunday’s final extends a painful pattern for the Liverpool N0.11
This latest chapter continues a brutal sequence that began in February 2022 when Mane scored the decisive penalty in the AFCON final shootout in Yaoundé, denying Egypt their eighth continental crown and delivering Senegal their maiden title. Just weeks later in March 2022, the duo clashed again in World Cup qualifying, with Mane converting the winning spot-kick in another penalty shootout after Salah blazed his effort over the bar under a barrage of laser pointers – eliminating Egypt from Qatar 2022 qualification.
However, the former Liverpool man was classy in his assessment of the game, saying post-match:
“I pay tribute to Egypt of course and as I always said, Egypt is for me the best ever team in Africa.”
“Today they showed it again. Wow. What a team. It was not easy for us and we expect that because it’s Africa Cup and we’re travelling but we keep patient … facing these great players, especially Mo Salah, one of the best players in the world,” he said as quoted by ESPN.
“Of course he always gives his best for the team, unfortunate for him today as well. I just want to say this is part of football.”
“It is not easy for him – but still best of luck,” Mane added.
“He did everything to carry his team until now. Unfortunately one of us had to [lose]. I’m happy [to be] in the final.”
Salah is likely to be available for the Premier League champions when they travel to Marseille for their Champions League fixture on January 21.
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