TANGIER, Morocco – Egypt’s national team has put the finishing touches on their preparations ahead of a high-stakes semi-final against Senegal as both teams vie for a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Led by head coach Hossam Hassan, the Pharaohs are aiming for a record eighth Africa Cup of Nations title as they take on the “Lions of Teranga” in a high-stakes semi-final on Wednesday, January 14. Kick-off is set for 7:00 pm CLT (17:00 GMT) at the Grand Stade de Tanger, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
After completing their final training session, the team is now focused and ready for the challenge.
A strong sense of optimism and determination dominated the session, which lasted around 90 minutes and saw the full squad take part as the Pharaohs fine-tuned their preparations.
Team captain Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and in-form forward Omar Marmoush of Manchester City are expected to continue leading Egypt’s attacking line in the crucial semi-final encounter against Senegal. The duo has been instrumental throughout the tournament and remains central to Hassan’s tactical plans.
The 59-year-old tactician has opted to maintain his faith in the Salah–Marmoush partnership after their decisive impact in previous rounds, particularly in the quarter-final victory over defending champions Côte d’Ivoire. Both players found the net in the thrilling 3-2 win over the Elephants, which secured Egypt’s place in the last four.
The Egyptian team had been based in Agadir throughout the tournament, hosting Egypt’s group-stage matches against Zimbabwe, South Africa and Angola, before victories over Benin in the round of 16 and Côte d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals.
Caution remains the watchword inside the Pharaohs’ camp, with six players—Hamdi Fathi, Ahmed Fattouh, Marwan Attia, Rami Rabia, Hossam Abdel Meguid and goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy—currently on yellow cards. Any further booking against Senegal would result in suspension, potentially ruling them out of the final should Egypt advance.
All six players picked up their first cautions during the knockout-stage matches against Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, placing them under pressure to avoid rash challenges or dissent in what promises to be a fiercely contested semi-final.
A storied rivalry
The Egyptian national team aims to end a 16-year wait for an African crown, having last lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2010. Wednesday’s semi-final marks the 14th encounter between Egypt and Senegal in AFCON history.
Out of the previous 13 meetings, the “Lions of Teranga” have claimed six victories, while the “Pharaohs” have won five, with two matches ending in draws.
Across these clashes, Egypt has scored nine goals but conceded 13. Leading the scoring charts in these encounters are former stars Mame Diouf of Senegal and Ahmed Hossam “Mido” of Egypt, each with two goals.
Focusing solely on Africa Cup of Nations meetings, the two sides have met five times, with Senegal winning three and Egypt two, and no draws recorded.
Among the most memorable encounters between Egypt and Senegal is the 2021 AFCON final, famously dubbed the “Laser Match,” where Senegal failed to score in a 0–0 draw but went on to claim the title on penalties.
AFCON record
Salah etched his name into Africa Cup of Nations history after becoming the first player to score against 11 different national teams in the tournament after finding the net against Côte d’Ivoire in the quarter-final.
The Egyptian captain broke a long-standing record, moving clear of a group of three players who had previously scored against 10 different opponents at AFCON, and now stands alone as the continent’s most diverse scorer in the competition’s history.
Salah now features alongside an elite group of AFCON legends, including Ghana’s Andre Ayew and Cameroon icon Samuel Eto’o, both of whom found the net against 10 different teams, while Ivorian great Didier Drogba scored 11 goals against 10 separate opponents during his tournament career.
Throughout his AFCON journey, Salah has scored against Ghana and Burkina Faso at the 2017 edition, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in 2019, Guinea-Bissau and Morocco in 2021, Mozambique in 2023, and Zimbabwe, South Africa, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire in the ongoing tournament.
His latest milestone further cements his status as one of the most influential players in Africa Cup of Nations history.
Despite his glittering club career, Salah reiterated that lifting the AFCON trophy remains a special ambition. “Winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt is still a dream. It gives me and my teammates extra motivation.”
Semis boost Egypt $2.5m
The Egyptian national team has boosted its financial returns at the ongoing 2025 AFCON in Morocco after booking a place in the semi-finals with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Côte d’Ivoire, taking its guaranteed prize money so far to $2.5 million.
Egypt’s progress in the tournament leaves the door open for further financial rewards should the Pharaohs continue their run in the latter stages.
Under the prize structure approved for this edition, the two losing semi-finalists will each earn $2.5 million, the runners-up will collect $4 million, while the champions will receive a record $10 million following the Confederation of African Football’s decision to raise the winner’s prize from $7 million.
According to CAF’s prize distribution, teams finishing fourth in their group are awarded $500,000, while the two third-placed teams that fail to qualify for the round of 16 receive $700,000 each.
The eight teams eliminated in the round of 16 earn $800,000 apiece, with quarter-final exits rewarded with $1.3 million.
