Senegal 1-0 Egypt Player Ratings: Sadio Mané's Late Strike Takes Teranga Lions to AFCON Finals

It was a tight and tense night at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, where Senegal secured a narrow 1-0 win over Egypt to reach the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. The semi-final felt like a slow and cautious contest, with both playing disciplined football, and the match looked set to head towards extra time.

From our view, this was a game with very few clear chances. Senegal enjoyed more of the ball and spent long spells in Egypt’s half, but breaking down a compact and well-organised defence proved difficult.

Egypt National football team sat deep, protected their back line well, and focused on stopping Senegal rather than pushing forward themselves. In the 78th minute, Sadio Mané produced a moment of brilliance, striking from outside the box and finding the bottom corner with precision. It was a goal that lifted the crowd and finally broke the deadlock in an otherwise tight contest.

Egypt struggled to respond and was dispossessed many times by the Senegalese players. One of the best Egyptian players, Mohamed Salah, was kept quiet by Senegal’s disciplined defending, and clear chances were very difficult. Senegal, however, stayed patient and kept pressing until their breakthrough came.

In the end, Senegal’s control, patience, and defensive strength made the difference, earning them a deserved 1-0 victory on a night decided by one moment of brilliance. Let's take a look at the Senegal Vs Egypt Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Both teams stayed compact and cautious, but Senegal’s organisation and midfield control allowed them to dictate the tempo without leaving themselves exposed.

• In a match short on chances, Sadio Mané’s moment of individual brilliance proved decisive, breaking a stubborn Egyptian defence late in the game.

• Senegal successfully neutralised Mohamed Salah, and Egypt offered very little going forward, making it difficult for them to respond once they fell behind.

Egypt Player Ratings vs Senegal

Here's a look at the Egypt Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mohamed El Shenawy - 7.0: Made a few crucial saves to keep his team in the game, especially one in the first half from a Pape Gueye shot. He couldn't do anything about Mané's world-class strike. Commanded his area well, and his distribution was decent enough under pressure.

Defenders

Ramy Rabia - 5.5: We thought he looked a little off the pace today. He struggled with the movement of Senegal's forwards and won only a fraction of his duels before being substituted. It wasn't his best day at the office, and he seemed to struggle with the intensity of the game.

Hossam Abdelmaguid - 6.5: A very mixed performance from our perspective. He picked up an early yellow card, which put him on a tightrope for the rest of the game. However, he also made a massive 10 clearances, throwing his body on the line multiple times. He was a warrior, but a reckless one.

Yasser Ibrahim - 7.0: Easily Egypt's best defender on the night. He was a rock at the back, winning 8 duels and making 6 tackles. He read the game brilliantly and made several key interceptions. It was a battling display full of heart and determination against a potent attack.

Midfielders

Mohamed Hany - 5.0: A really poor performance that surprised us. His passing was erratic, with an accuracy of just 55%, and he lost possession a staggering 18 times. He also made a critical error that led to a shot. He just never seemed to get into the rhythm of the match.

Hamdy Fathy - 6.5: A typically combative display in the middle of the park. He fought for every ball, won his duels, and wasn't afraid to get stuck in. He also made two important blocks to deny Senegal. A solid, if unspectacular, outing for the midfielder.

Marwan Ateya - 6.0: He tried to get Egypt moving forward, but it just didn't happen for him. While he did play passes into the final third, his influence was limited. We noticed he was a bit lightweight in the tackle, winning only one of four attempted. Needed to be more assertive.

Ahmed Fatouh - 5.5: Withdrawn at half-time after a very quiet 45 minutes. He was tidy in possession but offered almost nothing in terms of penetration or defensive cover. It felt like the game was passing him by, and the substitution was justified.

Forwards

Mohamed Salah - 5.0: From our perspective, this was one of the most anonymous games we've ever seen from him. The captain touched the ball only 30 times and lost 11 duels. He offered no threat, registered no shots, and looked visibly frustrated. A deeply disappointing evening for a player of his calibre.

Omar Marmoush - 6.0: He was a livewire and was probably Egypt's most energetic attacker. He drew four fouls and constantly looked to run at the defence. However, his end product was severely lacking, and his decision-making in the final third let him down. All effort, no reward.

Emam Ashour - 5.5: He worked tirelessly but was often ineffective. He lost possession far too frequently and struggled to link up with his teammates. He was substituted late on after failing to make any real impact on the Senegalese defence.

Substitutes

Trézéguet - 6.0: Came on at halftime but couldn't change the flow of the game.

Zizo - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Mostafa Mohamed - N/A: Came on late and had one headed chance.

Manager

H. Hussein - 5.0: His defensive setup was solid for 78 minutes, but the lack of attacking intent was glaring. His team seemed to be playing for penalties from the start. The substitutions were too little, too late to make a difference. A very negative approach.

Senegal Player Ratings vs Egypt

Let's take a look at the Senegal Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Edouard Mendy - 6.5: Had virtually nothing to do all game, with only one save to make. It was probably one of the easiest nights of his career. He stayed alert and did what was required. A clean sheet is a clean sheet.

Defenders

Kalidou Koulibaly - 5.0: A frustrating start for the captain. He received a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and was then forced off with an injury just 23 minutes in. It's tough to rate him, but his early departure was a blow.

Moussa Niakhaté - 7.5: What stood out to us was his calmness on the ball. He boasted an incredible 96% pass accuracy and looked so composed alongside his partners. He won his headers and was a picture of defensive solidity. A very classy performance.

Krépin Diatta - 8.0: Our highest-rated player. He was everywhere. With over 100 touches, he was the heartbeat of the team, driving forward from his wing-back role. His passing was crisp and his energy was relentless. An absolutely outstanding all-around performance.

El Hadji Malick Diouf - 6.5: A very attack-minded performance, but it was a bit of a mixed bag. He put in 10 crosses which is impressive, but he also lost the ball over 20 times. He was a constant outlet on the left, though his final ball could have been better.

Midfielders

Idrissa Gueye - 7.5: The midfield general. He was immense in breaking up play, winning tackles, and recovering the ball nine times. He kept the Senegalese midfield ticking over with simple, effective passing. A classic, disruptive performance from him.

Pape Gueye - 7.0: He was a powerful presence in the middle, dominating his duels and distributing the ball with authority. He even forced a good save from the keeper with a shot from distance. A commanding display before he was tactically substituted.

Habib Diarra - 5.5: He only played the first half and struggled to get a foothold in the game. He committed a few fouls and picked up a yellow card for his troubles. It was no surprise to see him replaced at the interval.

Forwards

Sadio Mané - 8.5: The Man of the Match. When his team needed him most, he delivered a moment of magic. The winning goal was spectacular, and he was a constant menace, creating four chances for his teammates. He was the difference-maker, pure and simple.

Iliman Ndiaye - 7.5: We were so impressed with his perfect 100% pass completion. He was incredibly tidy on the ball and his successful dribbles caused problems for the Egyptian defence. He looked sharp and creative throughout his time on the pitch.

Nicolas Jackson - 6.0: It was a frustrating night for the striker. His work rate and movement were excellent, creating space for others. However, his finishing was wayward, and he missed the target with the chances he had. Needs to be more clinical.

Substitutes

Mamadou Sarr - 6.5: Came on for the injured Koulibaly and did a steady job.

Lamine Camara - 7.0: Added energy and had a few shots from distance.

Cherif Ndiaye - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Ismaïla Sarr - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Pathé Ciss - N/A: A late sub to see out the game.

Manager

P. Thiaw - 7.5: His game plan worked to perfection. He set his team up to control the match and trusted in his star player to provide the moment of magic. His side showed patience and discipline, fully deserving their place in the final. Excellent management.

Player of the Match

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match: Sadio Mane

Worst Performer

The worst performer in the Senegal vs Egypt match was Mohamed Salah of Egypt.