The rivalry between the two icons comes back in the Senegal–Egypt semifinal

Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah face off again in a semi-final that carries the history, pain and fever of their previous duels. The two superstars return to the spotlight, after two legendary challenges in 2022, where Mané triumphed in the AFCON final and the World Cup play-off. The meeting is seen as one of the last challenges of the golden era of two of Africa's greatest players.

The rivalry between Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah returns to the biggest continental stage, as Senegal and Egypt will face off in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

This duel is loaded with history, as the two stars met in two dramatic challenges in 2022: the AFCON final in Yaoundé and the World Cup play-off in Dakar, both decided on penalties, with Mané emerging triumphant.

Mané, who then admitted that the decisive penalty in the final was one of the most difficult moments of his life, turned pressure into strength thanks to meditation techniques.

Salah, who failed to score any of the crucial penalties in those challenges, enters this encounter with a new motive for a rematch. In total, in five meetings between them with the national teams, Salah has won only once.

Both 33-year-olds, born just 66 days apart, they have followed similar paths to success.

Mané grew up in Bambali, Senegal, and was forced to leave home at the age of 15 to pursue his football dream in Dakar. Salah left Nagrig for Cairo at the same age of 15 to pursue his career with Al Mowkaloon.

Both have become major figures who have funded projects in their countries and won numerous trophies with Liverpool.

Salah has scored four goals in the tournament and is expected to lead Egypt's attack. Mané has only one goal but continues to contribute with his intelligence and assists.

While Senegal remain favourites with the experience and stability of recent years, Egypt enter hungry for revenge, with Salah looking to atone for the wounds of 2022.

The clash in Tangier between the two players could be one of the last challenges of this great rivalry on the international stage.

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