When Mohamed Salah leads Egypt against Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) semi-final, he carries the weight of national expectation and a personal drive to finally secure the continental trophy.
Egypt, seven-time Afcon champions, last lifted the title in 2010, just before Salah made his international debut. The 33-year-old forward has experienced heartbreak in previous tournaments, finishing as a runner-up in 2017 and 2021, exiting in the last 16 in 2019 on home soil, and missing the 2023 finals through injury.
“Nobody, even in Egypt, wants to win this trophy more than me,” Salah said after Egypt’s quarter-final win over Ivory Coast. “I have won almost every prize. This is the title I am waiting for.”
The semi-final in Tangier also reignites his rivalry with former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane. The Senegalese star has bested Salah in two of their last three international encounters, adding an extra layer of tension to the clash.
At 33, with Afcon set to become a quadrennial tournament from 2028, this could be Salah’s final opportunity to lift the trophy and cement his legacy with Egypt. Despite his extensive club success and personal accolades with Liverpool, many across Africa still view an Afcon title as the ultimate benchmark of greatness.
