As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations gets closer to the final bend, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has sent a clear message to his troops ahead of the highly anticipated semifinal clash against Egypt.
Following a tough quarter-final encounter over resilient Mali, Senegal finds itself with another assignment of going past Egypt.
“Our goal is clear. We want to win the title. We will prepare for Egypt with the same seriousness as any other opponent,” the gaffer confidently noted.
“We are improving as a team. Every time after a game, I realise we have greatly improved. I am confident that we will play at our best level to deliver for our fans,” he added.
Standing in the way of Senegal is a familiar opponent in Egypt. A repeat of the 2021 final delivers a highly anticipated game that will see Sadio Mane lock horns with former teammate Mohamed Salah.
Thiaw underlines that there is limited room for error since they are taking a disciplined side with huge experience bragging with a record seven AFCON titles.
“Opportunities become scarcer the further we advance in the tournament. In the previous game, we missed several chances. If we had been more focused and clinical in the final minutes, we could have scored two or three goals.”
The two sides have met 15 times in various international engagements; Egypt has won seven games, while Senegal has registered six victories, with two draws.