Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Sadio Mane, often quiet in this tournament, exploded into life when it mattered most, scoring the solitary goal to sink Egypt and send Senegal to the AFCON 2025 final.

It was a moment of pure instinct. Pouncing on a defensive mix-up, Mane fired a low drive into the corner, silencing the critics who claimed his best days were behind him. "He is our leader," said coach Aliou Cisse. "When the team needs a heartbeat, Sadio provides it." Senegal now stands on the brink of a historic title defense.