The stage is set for a thrilling encounter in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals as Senegal takes on Egypt in Tangiers, Morocco on Wednesday.
This will be the first time former Liverpool teammates Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah will face each other on the pitch since the Champions League final in May 2022.
Their last meeting ended in heartbreak for Salah, as Mane scored the decisive penalty in the shoot-out, securing Senegal’s first AFCON title in 2022.
Now, Salah is determined to lead Egypt to victory, having scored four goals in four appearances in this tournament
Mane, who turns 34 this year, has already tasted success, winning the AFCON title with Senegal in 2022. He’ll be looking to add to his collection and help Senegal reach their third final in four editions.
Salah, also 34, is under pressure to win a major international trophy with Egypt. He’s been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, but remains focused on leading his team to AFCON glory.
The Egypt captain has been in top form, scoring four goals in four games, and is determined to win the title he’s been chasing.
“Nobody, even in Egypt, wants to win this trophy more than me,” Salah said after beating Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals.
Mane and Salah have a complex history, having played together under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Mane recently admitted that they sometimes struggled to get along on the pitch, with Salah’s passing being a point of contention.
Despite their differences, both players are highly respected and have achieved great success in their careers.
The match promises to be an intense battle between two African football legends.
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