Tangier, Morocco – In a repeat of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final, Senegal and Egypt clashed in a highly anticipated semi-final at the Tangier Grand Stadium on Wednesday. The match, a rematch of the 2022 final where Senegal triumphed, saw the two African giants battle for a place in the 2026 AFCON final.

The game began with high intensity, Senegal pressing hard from the start. An early foul led to a yellow card for Egypt's Abdelmaguid, who will miss the final if Egypt qualifies. Senegal, ranked second in Africa, aimed to reach their third AFCON final in the last four editions. Egypt, the seven-time champions, were desperate to end their 16-year title drought.

Former Liverpool teammates Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, now talismans for their respective countries, were central figures in this encounter. Their rivalry added another layer of intrigue to this already compelling match.

Senegal reached the semi-finals after finishing top of Group D with two wins and a draw. They then defeated Sudan 3-1 in the Round of 16 and edged out Mali 1-0 in the quarter-finals. Egypt had a similar journey, topping Group B with seven points before overcoming Benin 3-1 in the Round of 16 and Ivory Coast 3-2 in the quarter-finals.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan emphasized his team's determination and awareness of the challenge. Senegal's coach, Pape Thiaw, acknowledged Egypt's impressive record but affirmed his team's ambition to win.

Historically, the winner of a knockout match between Senegal and Egypt has gone on to win the entire tournament, a pattern seen in 2006 and 2021. Their most recent encounter was in the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-offs, where Senegal qualified after a penalty shootout.

The match kicked off at 5pm GMT. The winner of this semi-final will face either Nigeria or Morocco in the final. The final draw for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 will be held on January 15.