BREAKING: Mane strike late to break Egypt hearts and deny Salah Afcon final

The Egypt national football team captain cut a dejected figure at the Grand Stade de Tangier on Wednesday night as Egypt’s quest for a first Africa Cup of Nations title since 2010 ended with a narrow semi-final defeat to Senegal national football team, for Mohamed Salah, the sense of international heartbreak was all too familiar, Sport360NG reports.

In a tight, low-tempo contest played in Morocco, the decisive moment arrived 12 minutes from time when Sadio Mane powered home the winning goal to send Senegal through to Sunday’s final.

Egypt had arrived at the tournament openly targeting continental glory, but once again found Senegal standing between Salah and the one major honour missing from his glittering career.

Speaking after the match, Mane paid tribute to his former Liverpool team-mate. “It’s not easy for him,” he said. “He carried his team throughout the tournament. Unfortunately one of us had to lose. I’m happy to be in the final.”

For Salah, watching Mane celebrate on the international stage has become an unwelcome pattern. Senegal overcame Egypt on penalties in the 2021 Afcon final, with Mane converting the decisive kick, before repeating the feat months later in the World Cup play-offs when Salah missed in another shootout heartbreak.

Nearly four years on, this latest setback will sting just as sharply, particularly after an Egypt performance that struggled to impose itself in the last four.

A prize that still eludes him

Since joining Liverpool in 2017, Salah has collected virtually every major club honour available, including multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League. Yet African supremacy remains his unfulfilled ambition.

“Nobody wants this trophy more than me,” he said after Egypt’s quarter-final victory over Ivory Coast. “I’ve won almost everything else. This is the one I’m waiting for.”

At 33, it would be premature to label this his final Afcon. With more than 110 caps since his debut in 2011, Salah could yet feature again before the tournament moves to a four-year cycle. However, with his future at Liverpool uncertain and time no longer on his side, opportunities are beginning to narrow.

Former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel said: “He’s won everything at club level and everyone wanted him to win this. Now he has to go back to Liverpool and continue his career.”

Ex-Morocco international Hassan Kachloul warned the clock is ticking. “He will keep pushing and try again in two years,” he said. “But there won’t be many more chances.”

Familiar flaws resurface

Salah had arrived in Morocco in fine form, arguably enjoying his best Afcon campaign, and Egypt appeared to be building momentum after an impressive quarter-final display. But old issues resurfaced at a critical moment.

Too cautious in possession and overly dependent on moments of inspiration from Salah or Omar Marmoush, Egypt struggled to create sustained pressure against a disciplined Senegal side.

The defeat is another painful chapter for a generation that followed Egypt’s golden era of three consecutive Afcon titles. Losses in the 2017 and 2021 finals have now been compounded by this semi-final exit.

Egypt will face Nigeria in Saturday’s third-place play-off before Salah returns to club duty, once again forced to regroup and reflect.

His status as Egypt’s greatest-ever player is secure. Yet unless he finally lifts African football’s biggest prize, the lingering sense of what might have been will remain.