It is official, the two most powerful African football teams of the ongoing 2025 African Cup of Nations are known; Senegal and Morocco. Their tyrannic football display during the semi-finals that were played yesterday January 14, 2026 left the crowd and fans in an atmosphere of joy, excitement and entertainment. Both teams came out victorious after their encounter with Seven times winner Egypt and the Super eagles of Nigeria respectively.
The Teranga lions of Senegal succeeded in booking their ticket to the finals after they roared at their opponent, Egypt at the Grand Stade de Tanger. Long closed, the first semi-final was unlocked by a decisive goal from Sadio Mané, once again victorious in his duel against Mohamed Salah in the national team. He took his chance at the edge of the opponent’s box after a blocked shot by Lamine Camara at the 78th minute. Senegal will meet Morocco in the final on Sunday, January 18.
As in the final of the 2022 AFCON and the 2022 World Cup play-offs, the star of the Lions of Teranga led his team to victory in his long-distance duel with Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, his former teammate at Liverpool. If, in 2022, the two-time African Ballon d’Or winner had given his country the first African Cup in its history by scoring the decisive penalty at the end of an already closed match (0-0, 4-2 penalty), the native of Bambali did even better this Wednesday in Tangier by finding the net in the game.
Host country Morocco on its part edged over its opponent, Nigeria. Youssef El-Nesyri scored the winning penalty, and Yassine” Bono” Bounou saved two as Morocco advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations final with a 4-2 win on penalties on Wednesday.
Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved one but was beaten by Bono in the shootout after the teams drew 0-0 with extra time in front of 65,458 mostly Moroccan supporters in Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Both teams will take on each other on Sunday January 18, 2026 at the finals scheduled to take place at the Complex Sportiff Prince Moulay Abdellah, while Egypt and Nigeria will fight for the third position at the Mohammed V stadium, Casablanca.
