DAKAR, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- On the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations semifinal, Senegal's capital Dakar was unusually calm. No flags fluttered along the city's main avenues. Jersey sellers were nowhere to be seen. In the Medina district, football conversations were cautious, even pessimistic, as Senegal prepared to face longtime rivals Egypt.
"We are not in a good position. Egypt will take revenge," said Makha Diop, standing in a small shop on Rue 5 of Medina, a piece of bread in hand, his eyes already fixed on the looming clash.
Many shared his concern. Memories of Egypt's pedigree - a seven-time African champion - weighed heavily, despite Senegal's recent dominance.
24 hours later, that calm had transformed into a nationwide roar. Sadio Mane scored the decisive goal as Senegal won 1-0 in Tangier, Morocco on Wednesday, securing a place in the final after a tense and hard-fought match.
The victory marked yet another chapter in a rivalry that has defined African football in recent years. After defeating Egypt in the 2021 AFCON final and eliminating them in the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs, Senegal came on top once again.
For some, the psychological edge was always there. "We have the mental advantage," said Gora Ndiaye, a former player in Senegal's domestic league. "The Egyptians remember 2022. That stays in your head."
Much of the anxiety centered on the duel between two African icons: Mane and Mohamed Salah. Former Liverpool teammates and multiple-time African Footballers of the Year, their rivalry has come to symbolize the broader contest between the two nations.
"This is another episode of the Mane-Salah story," said Moussa Sene, a mechanic following the build-up closely. "Mane has already won the AFCON. Salah still wants his first. That makes it dangerous."
"I will be very happy to play what could be my last final," Mane said after the game. "I will enjoy it and try to win it for my country."
Celebrations erupted beyond Dakar. At Deny Biram Ndao, some 50 kilometers from the capital, hundreds of young players at Generation Foot - the association football club where Mane began his career - expressed their excitement.
"We can't repay Sadio Mane," said Mamadou Diallo, one of the academy's players. "He is a legend. He is our reference. We dream of following his path."
Academy director Bassouare Diaby echoed the sentiment. "He is an example for all our players. We are proud of him and hope he brings the trophy home again."
Senegalese media hailed Mane as the driving force behind the campaign, as sports outlet Wiwsport described him as "the most decisive player of the modern AFCON era."
The victory also drew praise from the country's leadership. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye congratulated the team on social media for a "serious and controlled performance," urging the Lions to maintain their discipline and collective spirit "to offer Senegal a new star."
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko hailed the team's endurance and ambition, calling their journey a reflection of the "new spirit" Senegal seeks to embody. ■
