Egypt's Historic AFCON Final Dream Starts Against Senegal in Tangier
13 January 2026
Semifinal Stakes
Egypt's national team is chasing a historic throne at the Africa Cup of Nations as they meet Senegal in the semifinals on Wednesday evening, in the current edition hosted by Morocco.
Historic Finals and Records
The clash will be staged at the Ibn Battouta Stadium in Tangier, a rematch of the 2021 final won by the Lions of Teranga.
Egypt hopes to reach the final for the 10th time, aiming to become the first to achieve that milestone.
The Pharaohs share with Ghana the record for most AFCON finals, nine apiece.
Egypt won seven finals in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010, but lost in 2017 and 2021.
If they advance, it would be the Pharaohs' third final in the last five editions, but their first title since 2010.
Egypt hopes for a North African final; hosting duties have never before been in North Africa.
They were eliminated in the group stage in 1988, 1990, 2004, and reached the 1994 quarterfinal.
The winner will meet the other semi’s finalist, Morocco (host) or Nigeria; the final is on Sunday.
Fans in both camps are hoping for a memorable North African showcase.
If the Egyptians pull it off, the memes will finally be about football, not politics.
