Senegal snatch late winner down Egypt to reach Cup of Nations final. Senegal beat Egypt 1-0 in a semifinal match on Wednesday. The match was played in Côte d’Ivoire as part of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Senegal’s goal came in the final minutes of regular time. Famara Diedhiou scored with a header from a corner kick. The goal arrived in the 89th minute. It sent Senegal into the final.
Egypt defended strongly for much of the match. The teams traded possession with few clear scoring chances early on. Senegal’s keeper made a save in the first half to deny an Egyptian attempt. Egypt’s defence limited space in the box and blocked several crosses.
Both teams adjusted formations at halftime. Senegal increased pressing in the second half. Egypt continued to mark tightly and looked to counterattack. Egypt’s keeper made a second save to stop a long range effort from Senegal.
Egypt had a chance from a free kick in the 75th minute. The shot went over the crossbar after the wall deflected part of the kick. Senegal responded with a through ball that forced a save from Egypt’s keeper seconds later.
Senegal’s late goal came from a well delivered set piece. The corner was taken from the right flank. Diedhiou rose above defenders to head the ball into the net. The score remained 1-0 to the end.
Senegal’s coach praised the team’s resilience after the match. The players celebrated on the pitch with waving flags and raised arms. Senegal secured a place in the Cup of Nations final for the upcoming weekend.
Egypt’s coach acknowledged the narrow loss after the referee blew the final whistle. The Egyptian squad regrouped before walking off the field. Egypt will now prepare for a third place play off match.
Senegal reached the final without conceding a goal in the knockout stage. The team posted clean sheets in both quarterfinal and semifinal matches. Senegal’s defensive record in the tournament remains strong.
Egypt entered the semifinal with several wins in earlier rounds. The team topped its group before advancing to the knockout stages. Egypt scored multiple goals in previous matches, including one from open play and two from set pieces.
The Africa Cup of Nations final will feature Senegal against another semifinal winner. The date for the championship match is set later this week. Both teams will train and rest ahead of their next games. Senegal aims to win a second continental title. Egypt prepares for its next fixture in the third place play off.
The 1-0 result confirmed Senegal’s progress to the final. The match drew fans from both nations inside the stadium. Stadium announcers celebrated Senegal’s achievement as supporters cheered. The final stands as the culmination of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/senegal-snatch-late-winner-down-egypt-reach-cup-nations-final-2026-01-14/
