—- Only holders Senegal stand in the way of hosts Morocco winning the Africa Cup of Nations for only the second time in their history after two dramatic semi-finals.

The first semi-final saw Senegal edge out Egypt 1–0 in Tangier in another tournament disappointment for Mo Salah.

Senegal’s lone goal came in the 78th minute from his former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mané, whose powerful low strike — aided by a slight deflection — beat Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.

Unlike many high-tempo knockout games, the match was characterized by disciplined defending and cautious build-ups from both sides, with neither team creating a significant number of clear-cut chances.

Egypt’s strategy leaned heavily on defensive organisation and counter-attacks, which limited Senegal’s opportunities but also curtailed their own attacking threat.

Senegal controlled large swathes of possession and dictated the pace. Their midfield trio worked cohesively to recycle the ball, while wing play from the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Krépin Diatta kept pressure high. But it was their resilience and disciplined structure that prevented Egypt from mounting sustained attacking waves.

Egypt, for all captain Salah’s efforts, registered few shots on target and lacked penetration in the final third.

The second semi-final pitted hosts Morocco against the tournament’s top scorers Nigeria. After 120 minutes of goalless football, the tie was decided by a penalty shootout which Morocco won 4–2.

From the outset at Rabat’s packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, both teams battled fiercely but found attacking breakthroughs hard to come by. Nigeria, despite their prolific scoring in earlier rounds, struggled to find space against Morocco’s compact defensive lines and physical intensity.

After no goals in regular and extra time, the match went to penalties. Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero, saving two spot-kicks — crucially denying Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi — while Youssef En-Nesyri calmly converted the decisive kick to seal the win for the hosts.

With Senegal and Morocco advancing, the final promises a compelling clash between defending champions and host nation — blending tactical discipline with home-ground momentum. Both semi-finals were testament to the competitive depth of African football and the fine margins that decide continental glory.

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