Salah and fellow stars seek to halt Morocco as AFCON reaches semi-finals
The Africa Cup of Nations has reached its decisive stage, with hosts Morocco aiming to fend off challenges from Egypt, Nigeria and Senegal as the semi-finals loom.
Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked side and World Cup semi-finalists in 2022, remain favourites to lift the trophy in Rabat next Sunday. Yet Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria and Sadio Mané’s Senegal are all determined to deny them glory.
Morocco’s momentum
Walid Regragui’s team have conceded only once in five matches and silenced doubts about home pressure with a commanding 2-0 quarter-final victory over Cameroon.
Captain Achraf Hakimi, Africa’s current player of the year, has returned from injury, while Real Madrid winger Brahim Díaz has emerged as the tournament’s standout performer, scoring five goals in as many games.
“He can become the best player in the world if he wants to,” Regragui said after the Cameroon win.
Despite their current dominance, Morocco’s Cup of Nations record is modest. This is their first semi-final since 2004, when they lost to Tunisia in the final. Their sole continental triumph came in 1976, when they beat Nigeria en route to the title.
Nigeria’s resurgence
Nigeria arrived in Morocco with a point to prove, having missed out on World Cup qualification after a penalty shoot-out defeat by DR Congo in Rabat last November.
The Super Eagles, runners-up at the last AFCON in 2024, have impressed this time, scoring 14 goals — more than any other side. Led by Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, both former African players of the year, they have shown resilience under coach Eric Chelle.
“Nothing has changed,” Chelle insisted. “This is the same team. The difference is just that they have improved because they know what I want.”
Their progress means four of Africa’s five highest-ranked teams are in the semi-finals, with Algeria the only absentee after losing to Nigeria.
Egypt v Senegal: a familiar duel
The other semi-final in Tangiers pits Egypt against Senegal in a repeat of the 2022 final, which the Lions of Teranga won on penalties.
Senegal, ranked second in Africa and 19th globally, were seen as Morocco’s main rivals before the tournament. They now stand one match away from a third final in four editions.
Mané will face his former Liverpool teammate Salah, ensuring that the last five winners of the African player of the year award are all represented in the semi-finals.
Salah, who has scored four goals at this tournament, has yet to win AFCON despite twice reaching the final. He hopes to lead Egypt to a record-extending eighth title.
“I have won almost every honour, but this is the one I am waiting for,” Salah said after Egypt’s quarter-final victory over Ivory Coast.
He added that the Pharaohs remain outsiders: “We are coming up against really good teams, most of whose players are based in Europe. We have very good players but most play in Egypt. We have three abroad, but none of them are playing for their clubs right now.”