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Africa’s four football titans face off in semi-finals
The Star
|January 14, 2026
As AFCON Morocco 2025 unfolds, four of Africa's top five-ranked teams have reached tonight's semifinals.
The distinguished teams that have successfully advanced include Egypt (seven-time champions), Nigeria (2013 champions), Senegal (2021 winners), and the hosts, Morocco, the 1976 winners. Morocco is particularly motivated to secure its first title in 50 years. With such a long wait, the stakes for the host nation are higher than ever, promising an exciting race to the final.
Indepedent Media takes a closer look at tonight's blockbuster semifinals.
Senegal vs Egypt
Egypt secured their place with a riveting 3-2 victory over the defending champions, the Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, Senegal advanced to the final four with a disciplined 1-0 win over Mali.
Both nations are pinning their hopes on their star players. For Egypt, Mohamed Salah, a player renowned for his speed and skill, is undoubtedly expected to shine brightly. On the other hand, Senegal’s Sadio Mané, who has been instrumental in his team’s journey thus far, is ready to lead the charge.
This story is from the January 14, 2026 edition of The Star.
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