The end of the Africa Cup of Nations has arrived, and a heavyweight showdown awaits as Senegal and Egypt face off in the semi-finals on Wednesday, January 14, in Tangier.
Both teams come in with very similar records, having won four of their five matches in the tournament so far. However, the way they achieved their victories is quite different, adding an interesting tactical layer to this key match.
Senegal Aims to Reclaim Continental Supremacy
Ranked second in Africa behind host Morocco, Senegal is aiming for its third AFCON final appearance in the last four editions to assert its dominance in Africa.
The Lions of Teranga have performed well from the start, with two wins and a draw in the group stage before moving through the knockout rounds with confidence.
A 3–1 win over Sudan in the round of 16 was followed by a solid 1–0 victory against Mali in the quarter-finals, highlighting both their scoring ability and defensive strength.
Egypt Searching for Control and Consistency
Egypt, on the other hand, has similar results on paper with two wins and a draw in the group stage, but their performances have raised some concerns.
The Pharaohs used extra time to beat Benin in the last 16 and won a tense 3–2 match against Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals, despite having a comfortable lead at one point.
Senegal Probable Lineup
Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf; Diarra, I. Gueye, P. Gueye; Ndiaye, Jackson, Mane
Egypt Probable Lineup
El Shenawy; Hany, Ibrahim, Rabia, Fatouh; Attia, Fathi, Adel; Salah, Marmoush, Trezeguet
