Senegal's Sadio Mane struck again, crushing Mohamed Salah's Africa Cup of Nations dreams with a 1-0 semi-final win in Tanger. The Liverpool forward watched helplessly as his former teammate's late effort sent Egypt crashing out. This defeat follows a painful pattern for Salah, who previously lost the 2021 final and a World Cup qualifier to Mane's Senegal.

Salah has conquered club football with Liverpool, winning the Premier League and Champions League, but continental glory remains elusive. At 33, time is ticking on his international career, though he could still feature in future tournaments. The forward admitted this was the trophy he craved most, making this loss particularly heartbreaking for the Pharaohs.

Despite playing his best international football in Morocco, Salah's Egypt fell short again, hampered by a negative approach and over-reliance on their star man. Former players like John Obi Mikel expressed sympathy, noting Salah has waited years for this success. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Salah must now regroup for Liverpool.