The first semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be a rematch of the 2021 final when Senegal host seven-time champions Egypt.
Senegal eventually triumphed on penalties in that 2021 AFCON final and have progressed much further this time around than their disastrous title defence two years ago when they only made the Round of 16, with this their third semi-final appearance across the last four editions.
Perhaps assisted by quarter-final opponents Mali going down to ten men after Senegal took the lead with the only goal of their 1-0 triumph, they nonetheless continue to find a way to win in all kinds of circumstances, coming out on top in ten of their last 11 matches against African opposition (D1).
Knowing they’ll need to step up another gear, head coach Pape Thiaw has demanded more efficiency in the final third from a side who’ve actually scored three goals in three separate matches already at this tournament.
Egypt have qualified for the semi-finals for the third time in five editions and are hoping to go one better than their second-place finishes in 2021 and 2017 by lifting the trophy for the first time since 2010.
Manager Hossam Hassan vowed his side will fix the defensive mistakes that led to the goals conceded in their 3-2 win over Ivory Coast, but with Egypt keeping a clean sheet in only two of their last 11 games (W6, D3, L2), promising a perfect defensive performance appears to be easier said than done.
Senegal have won four of the five H2Hs to take place since 2014, including penalty shootout wins in both the AFCON 2021 final and the final stage of 2022 World Cup qualifying. Twelve of the 15 all-time H2Hs featured under 1.5 goals and only one saw both teams score!
