Pocket Gate at AFCON: Senegal's Swagger Sets the Stage for Egypt Showdown

Lead-Up to the Match

A controversial video clip has sparked anger among Egyptian fans in recent hours after the Senegal national team's official X account posted a clip ahead of the much-anticipated semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Senegal advanced with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mali in the quarterfinals, while Egypt overturned a deficit to beat Ivory Coast 3-2 in a dramatic clash.

Video, Reactions, and Official Clarifications

In the clip, Senegalese players gesture with the famous 'pocket' move, typically signaling that everything is under control.

The gesture comes amid Senegal's recent success against Egypt, fueling online comments.

Kooora asked for comment from a Senegal squad insider who declined to be named, saying the clip does not mock Egypt or its players.

He added that after training, as in any club, teams split into two sides and the winners celebrated in that manner—nothing more.

He concluded that Egypt and its people are fully respected.

The report also notes that the context is a normal post-training routine that ended with a typical celebration by the winning side.

Egypt, for its part, emphasized respect for both teams.

Two light-hearted lines to close: Punchline 1: If confidence paid rent, Senegal just bought a pair of pockets with a swagger warranty. Punchline 2: Egypt fans: we came for drama, stayed for the memes.