Hosts Morocco set up Senegal Afcon final showdown, as Salah’s Egypt and Nigeria bow out

RABAT – Hosts Morocco will play Sadio Mane’s Senegal in this weekend’s Africa Cup of Nations final after both emerged victorious in Jan 14’s tense last-four ties, as Mohamed Salah’s dreams of winning the title were again dashed.

Mane’s late goal gave Senegal a 1-0 victory over Egypt in Tangier while Morocco beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties after their semi-final showdown of few chances in capital Rabat finished 0-0 at the end of extra time.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou performed heroics in the shoot-out, saving from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi before Youssef En-Nesyri converted the winning kick to spark wild celebrations among over 65,000 fans inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

“It was one of the hardest matches we have had against a very solid and talented team,” said Morocco coach Walid Regragui, who played in the last Atlas Lions team to reach the Afcon final when they lost to hosts Tunisia in 2004.

“I am very happy for the players and for the Moroccan people who really deserve this. It is a great gift for them to be in the final but we will need to recover quickly because we put a lot of energy into the game.”

The shoot-out came after a cagey encounter, with almost all the chances of note coming in the first half and Nigeria mustering just two shots in the entire game.

Morocco have been under enormous pressure to deliver a first Afcon title in half a century and just their second overall.

While their dream remains alive, it is an agonising way for Nigeria’s hopes to end, two years after they lost the final to the hosts in Ivory Coast.

Led by two recent winners of the African player of the year prize in Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria had been arguably the best team at the tournament and the top scorers with 14 goals in their first five matches.

“The players fought for every ball and it is difficult to lose on penalties, but this is football and we have to accept it,” said Nigeria coach Eric Chelle.

Earlier, Mane scored a 78th-minute winner to destroy Egypt’s hopes, then said he was playing in the tournament for the last time.

“I’m very happy to be able to play in my very last Afcon. I hope to win it (the final) and bring (the trophy) back to Dakar,” the 33-year-old said.

Senegal, champions in 2022, dominated possession against cautious Egypt as the title continues to elude Liverpool superstar Salah.

This was Salah’s fifth Afcon and the closest he has come to a winners’ medal is finishing runner-up twice – in 2017 and 2022.

It will be Senegal’s fourth final appearance overall and their third in the last four editions.

“I think we managed the game well from start to finish and, overall, we deserved to win. We’ll try to be ready for the final, above all to give our best,” added Mane.

“The most important thing for me is that Senegal wins every time... I am a soldier of the nation. I try to give my all every day, whether in training or in matches.”

Referring to his former Liverpool teammate Salah, Mane also said that the Egyptian is “one of the best players in the world”. AFP