Egypt Aims for a Final Return as They Face Senegal in AFCON Semis
14 January 2026
AFCON Semi-Final Showdown: Egypt vs Senegal
Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan announced the same starting XI from the quarterfinal victory over Ivory Coast as the team prepares to face Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 semifinal, held in Morocco.
The semifinal unfolds at Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, with the winner advancing to the final on Sunday against the victor of Morocco vs Nigeria.
Egypt aims to reach the final for the tenth time in their history and to avenge the 2021 final defeat to Senegal.
The coach made no changes to the lineup that beat Ivory Coast, and Egyptian FA’s official X account posted the team sheet alongside a photo of Mohamed Hamdi, who is sidelined by a torn ACL, with the message “Always with Hamdi.”
Egypt’s Starting XI Against Senegal
Goalkeeper: Mohamed El Shennawy.
Defenders: Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Hosam Abdel-Magid, Ramy Rabia, Ahmed Fattouh.
Midfielders: Hamdi Fathy, Marwan Attia, Imam Ashour.
Forwards: Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Salah.
On the bench: Ahmed El Shennawi, Mustafa Shouper, Ahmed Ayd, Mohamed Ismail, Khaled Sobhi, Mahmoud Hassan-Trezeguet, Mohand Lashine, Ibrahim Adel, Mahmoud Saber, Mohamed Shahat, Ahmed Zizou, Mustafa Fathi, Osama Faisal, Salah Mohsen, Mustafa Mohammed.
Caption: Egypt looks to extend their AFCON journey as they target a place in the final against Senegal.
Punchline time: If precision were a weapon, Egypt’s forwards would file for a license—the net already filed its own complaint for too many strikes. Boom, target acquired: the back of the net, and the goalkeeper blinks first. And if Senegal tries to park the bus, the bus driver will ask for directions to the goal—because the road to the net is well lit and well guarded.
