When Mohamed Salah leads out Egypt of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) semi-final towards Senegal, he’s going to really feel each the burden of expectation from his country and his personal non-public force to ship a spot within the last.

The North Africans are file seven-time continental champions, however the newest of the ones successes got here in 2010, a yr earlier than the Liverpool ahead’s cross-border debut.

The 33-year-old was once a dropping finalist on the 2017 and 2021 editions – with the ones defeats sandwiching a last-16 go out in 2019 on house soil – and he was once then injured as Egypt suffered an early go out on the 2023 finals.

“Nobody, even in Egypt, desires to win this trophy greater than me,” Salah stated after serving to his staff beat the Ivory Coast within the quarter-finals.

“I’ve gained virtually each and every prize. This is the identify I’m looking forward to.”

The prospect of revenge may even cling heavy within the Tangier air on Wednesday (17:00 GMT) because the Pharaohs captain will arise towards former Reds team-mate Sadio Mane, who were given the easier of Salah on two in their previous 3 cross-border conferences.

With each gamers elderly 33 and Afcon changing into a quadrennial match from 2028, this might end up to be Salah’s final likelihood to convey the trophy again to Cairo after a number of disappointments.

And, for all his silverware with Liverpool and private honours, the sensation persists amongst many throughout Africa {that a} participant can’t be classed as in point of fact nice till they’ve an Afcon identify to their title.

Mane delivers from the spot

It was once just below 4 years in the past that Senegal and Egypt met within the last of Afcon 2021 in Cameroon, billed as a showdown between two Anfield stars.

Mane had a seventh-minute penalty stored by means of Egypt goalkeeper Gabaski, however it was once the Teranga Lions who ultimately emerged with their first continental identify following 120 goalless mins and a shootout.

Mane returned to attain the profitable spot kick as Salah was once compelled to observe on, having been held again to take the possibly decisive 5th penalty himself, however then left unused after Mohamed Abdelmonem hit a publish and Mohanad Lasheen noticed his effort stored.

The sight of Salah trudging previous the plinth on the medal presentation was once contrasted with Mane’s description of that February evening in Yaounde as “the most efficient day of my lifestyles and the most efficient trophy of my lifestyles”.

The two international locations confronted each and every different once more in March that yr, in a two-legged play-off for a spot on the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

That tie once more went the space after all sides gained 1-0 on house soil, and consequences once more settled it in Diamniadio.

On that instance, Salah stepped up first for the North Africans however blazed over the bar, with Mane once more scoring the winner within the shootout and sending his aspect to Qatar.

Salah main Egypt fee

Salah got here into the 2025 Afcon finals underneath a cloud after pronouncing he felt he were “thrown underneath the bus” by means of Liverpool and that his courting with boss Arne Slot had damaged down originally of December.

A spell out of the aspect and intense hypothesis about his long run adopted, but his time in Morocco has supplied a welcome respite with Salah netting 4 occasions in 4 video games – as many targets as he has controlled in 14 Premier League outings this season.

His moves towards Zimbabwe, South Africa, and in the quarter-final towards the Ivorians have been match-winners, whilst his past due effort within the last-16 assembly with Benin ensured Egypt’s innovation tools in time beyond regulation.

Salah now has a complete of eleven targets on the Afcon finals – stage with nationwide trainer Hossam Hassan and one at the back of Egypt’s file holder Hassan El-Shazly.

He is supported by means of Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, who has two targets at those finals, whilst Trezeguet, the aspect’s height scorer in qualifying, and Mostafa Mohamed additionally supply a objective risk for the Pharaohs.

Mane is Senegal’s ‘inspiration’

Mane, in the meantime, has began all 5 of Senegal’s video games, scoring as soon as to declare a draw towards DR Congo in Group D and offering 3 assists.

“You can see him main likelihood advent for Senegal at this Afcon, with a prime involvement in build-up and key performs,” BBC Afrique journalist Babacar Faye stated.

“His function is an inspiration for his teammates. Beyond his on-field abilities, his market is important to the staff as he is helping everybody deal with center of attention.”

The Teranga Lions aren’t overly reliant at the Al Nassr guy, given they possess a wealth of attacking choices.

The trickery of Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr in huge positions is complemented by means of both Habib Diallo or Nicolas Jackson main the road.

The international has additionally observed a glimpse of the following attainable Senegal big name within the form of Ibrahim Mbaye’s cameos from the bench, with trainer Pape Thiaw describing the 17-year-old as “a gem” whom the West Africans wish to “nurture”.

The ahead’s directness helped arrange Mane’s strike towards the Congolese, whilst he additionally gained a penalty towards Botswana earlier than netting towards Sudan within the final 16.

Experience is a very powerful too, with the backbone of keeper Edouard Mendy, captain Kalidou Koulibaly, midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye and Sarr all survivors from the 2021 last along Mane.

Trophies amid pressure at Anfield

Although they spent 5 seasons as teammates at Liverpool, on events, there was once pressure at the pitch between Salah and Mane earlier than the latter departed to Bayern Munich in 2022.

While they lifted the Champions League and Premier League trophies in combination, Salah outscored Mane by means of 118 targets to 77 within the height flight all over that point.

“I believe Mo is a really nice man. Though within the pitch, occasionally he would move to me and occasionally he would not,” Mane stated at the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

“Only Bobby (Firmino) was once there to percentage the balls. Sometimes it was once like this.

“I nonetheless take into accout one recreation when I used to be in reality, in reality offended as a result of he (Salah) does not move me the ball.”

Mane handiest lasted one season in Germany earlier than shifting to the Saudi Pro League, and Salah has himself been closely connected with a transfer to the Gulf country.

Liverpool rejected a £150m bid from Al-Ittihad again in September 2023, and it was once handiest 4 days after Salah’s surprising outburst final month that Saudi Pro League leader government Omar Mugharbel stated the Pharaohs skipper is a goal for its golf equipment.

Hassan says the business leader of each Mane and Salah will have to make Africans proud, however the guy dubbed the ‘Egyptian King’ will step out on the Grand Stade d’Tangier desperate to take some other step in opposition to securing the only identify his former club-mate treasures above all.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by means of Readers and Contributors in this platform don’t essentially constitute the perspectives or coverage of Multimedia Group Limited.