Salah and Mane: A Déjà Vu Clash as African Kings Meet in Tangier

A lot has happened in four years since Senegal defeated Egypt on penalties to claim their first AFCON trophy, yet familiar foes Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané continue to marshal their respective teams to this day. On Wednesday in Tangier, both will step under the TotalEnergies AFCON bright lights as they meet in the semifinals—a step lower than their showdown for the ultimate prize in Cameroon, but with no less at stake.

This encounter serves as a déjà vu for fans across Africa, as the two former Liverpool teammates once again find themselves standing in each other’s way on the path to continental glory.

The journey to this semifinal has been a testament to the enduring class of both stars. Egypt, the record seven-time champions, booked their place in the last four after a pulsating five-goal thriller against the outgoing champions, Ivory Coast. Mohamed Salah was at the heart of that victory, scoring a goal that saw him equal the legendary Hossam Hassan’s record of eleven AFCON goals.

Meanwhile, Senegal’s Teranga Lions secured their spot with a one-nil victory over Mali, led by Sadio Mane.

The history between these two icons is etched in the drama of penalty shootouts and narrow margins. Their most famous encounter came in the 2021 AFCON final in Olembe, where after 120 minutes of goalless football, the match was decided from the spot.

It was Sadio Mané who shook off an early penalty miss in regulation time to blast home the winning kick, securing Senegal’s maiden title while leaving Salah in tears. Just weeks later, the script was cruelly repeated during the Qatar 2022 World Cup play-offs. After another tense battle ended in a stalemate, Mané again converted the winning penalty in a laser-filled stadium in Dakar to send Senegal to Qatar, once more at Salah’s expense.

Even before they became global superstars at Anfield, their international paths crossed with consequences. During the 2015 AFCON qualifiers, a young Mané was instrumental in both legs against the Pharaohs, scoring in a two-nil win in Dakar and putting in a dominant performance in Cairo that ensured Egypt missed the tournament entirely.

These past meetings have created a narrative of Senegalese dominance over Egypt in the modern era, a trend that Salah is desperate to reverse as he nears the twilight of his international career.

Salah, the 2017 and 2022 African player of the year is on a quest for the one major trophy that has eluded him despite his domestic success and the goals scored for Egypt all these years.

Meanwhile, 2019 and 2022 African player of the year, Sadio Mané, has an opportunity to cement his legacy by leading Senegal to another AFCON trophy.

It is a rivalry defined by mutual respect and fierce competition, where once again, only one of Africa’s greatest sons can move forward to face either of Nigeria or Morocco.