Pharaohs Chase Final Spot Against Senegal in AFCON Semifinal Battle

CAIRO, 14 January 2026: Egyptian football fans turn their attention at 7:00 PM this Wednesday to Ibn Battuta Stadium in Tangier, Morocco, where Egypt’s senior national team, led by Hossam Hassan, faces Senegal in a highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations semifinal.

Egypt enters the clash fully focused on victory, driven by strong ambitions to reach the final and edge closer to continental glory. Beyond qualification, the Pharaohs are also seeking redemption after recent painful defeats to Senegal, including the AFCON 2021 final in Cameroon and the decisive stage of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Expected Egypt Lineup

Hossam Hassan is expected to stick with the same lineup that featured against Côte d’Ivoire in the previous round. Mohamed El-Shenawy will start in goal, with Mohamed Hany, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Rami Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, and Ahmed Fattouh forming the defensive line. The midfield trio consists of Hamdy Fathy, Marwan Attia, and Emam Ashour, while Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush lead the attack.

The Egyptian delegation arrived in Tangier on Monday evening from Agadir aboard a private aircraft. The team had been based in Agadir throughout the tournament, hosting matches against Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Angola in the group stage, before defeating Benin in the Round of 16 and Côte d’Ivoire in the quarterfinals.

Senegal’s Tournament Form

Senegal, coached by Pape Thiaw since December 13, 2024, has delivered consistent performances. Under his guidance, the team has recorded 11 wins, three draws, and just one defeat in 15 matches, a friendly loss to Brazil.

The Lions of Teranga topped Group D with seven points after wins over Botswana and Benin and a draw with DR Congo. They continued their run by eliminating Sudan in the Round of 16 and Mali in the quarterfinals.

Offensively, Senegal has scored 11 goals, ranking as the second-strongest attack in the tournament, while conceding only two goals—one of the best defensive records in the competition. Nicolas Jackson, Pape Gueye, and Cherif Ndiaye lead the team’s scoring chart with two goals each, supported by contributions from several other attacking options.