For Mohamed Salah, the pain of international heartbreak has become an all-too-familiar storyline.
On a tense Wednesday night at the Grand Stade de Tangier, Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) dream came to a crushing end as they were beaten 1-0 by Senegal in the semi-final of AFCON 2025. As the referee’s final whistle echoed around the stadium, Salah stood frozen in disbelief, watching his hopes of lifting Africa’s most coveted trophy disappear yet again.
The decisive moment came 12 minutes from time, when Sadio Mané struck a powerful winner in what had been a tight, cautious and largely uneventful contest in Morocco. That single goal was enough to send Senegal into Sunday’s final—and once more leave Salah on the losing side of an AFCON showdown with his former Liverpool team-mate.
A Rivalry That Keeps Breaking Salah’s Heart
For years, Salah and Mané formed one of the most feared attacking partnerships in world football at Liverpool. On the international stage, however, it has been Mané who has repeatedly triumphed, often at Salah’s direct expense.
This semi-final defeat reopened old wounds:
- AFCON 2021 Final: Mané scored the winning penalty as Senegal denied Egypt the title.
- 2022 World Cup Play-off: Mané again converted the decisive spot-kick after Salah missed, sending Senegal to Qatar.
- AFCON 2025 Semi-final: Mané’s late strike ended Egypt’s latest title bid.
Speaking to BBC World Service after the match, Mané acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment.
“It is not easy for him – but still best of luck,” Mané said.
“He did everything to carry his team until now. Unfortunately one of us had to lose. I’m happy to be in the final.”
For Salah, watching Mané celebrate once again on the continental stage was a bitter reminder of how cruel international football can be.
Egypt’s AFCON Dream Ends in Disappointment
Egypt arrived in Morocco openly targeting their first AFCON title since 2010, hoping to reclaim their status as Africa’s most successful football nation. Salah himself made no secret of how much the trophy meant to him.
After Egypt’s quarter-final win over Ivory Coast, he said:
“Nobody, even in Egypt, wants to win this trophy more than me.
I have won almost every prize. This is the title I am waiting for.”
Yet against Senegal, Egypt struggled to impose themselves. Despite Salah scoring four goals during the tournament, the Pharaohs once again appeared overly cautious, relying heavily on moments of individual brilliance rather than sustained attacking pressure.
Former Morocco midfielder Hassan Kachloul later warned that time may be running out for Salah to lead Egypt to glory.
“He will not stop until he gets his rewards,” Kachloul said.
“But there won’t be many more chances.”
Salah’s Unfinished International Legacy
At 33 years old, Salah has already cemented his status as one of the greatest African players of all time. Since joining Liverpool in 2017, he has won every major club honour, including:
- Multiple Premier League titles
- The UEFA Champions League
- Domestic cups and individual awards
Yet continental success with Egypt continues to elude him.
Salah has now experienced heartbreak at:
- The 2017 AFCON final
- The 2021 AFCON final
- The 2025 AFCON semi-final
While it would be premature to say this was his final Africa Cup of Nations, the clock is undeniably ticking. He could still feature in the 2027 and 2028 tournaments before AFCON moves to a four-year cycle, but questions remain about his long-term future—both with Egypt and at Liverpool following recent public tensions.
Former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel reflected on Salah’s frustration:
“He has been waiting.
He has won everything at club level, but everyone wanted him to win this title.”
Was This Salah’s Best Chance?
BBC World Service reporter John Bennett believes everything had aligned for Salah at AFCON 2025.
Egypt were improving with each match, Salah was playing some of his best international football, and the team appeared united and relaxed in their coastal training base in Agadir.
But familiar issues resurfaced at the crucial moment:
- Over-reliance on Salah and Omar Marmoush
- A lack of creativity from midfield
- A cautious approach in big matches
For Salah, this defeat will sting deeply—not only because of Mané’s role, but because opportunities like this are becoming rarer.
What Happens Next for Salah and Egypt?
Egypt will now face Nigeria in the third-place play-off on Saturday, a match that offers little consolation. Salah will then return to Liverpool, tasked with quickly refocusing on club football and pushing this latest disappointment aside.
Whether Salah will get one final chance to lift the AFCON trophy remains uncertain. His legacy as Egypt’s greatest modern footballer is secure—but ending his career without Africa’s biggest prize would remain a painful “what if”.
For now, one truth is impossible to ignore:
When it matters most at AFCON, Sadio Mané keeps standing in Mohamed Salah’s way.
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