Officiating rows, lasers and a curse, Senegal v Egypt’s twist-filled rivalry | OneFootball

Senegal and Egypt have forged a rivalry rich in controversy, and since 2006 it has largely favoured the Lions of Teranga.

According to L'Équipe, the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations semi in Cairo, a 2-1 defeat, still stings, particularly an 89th-minute foul on Diomansy Kamara as he broke clear. Kamara later said Cameroonian referee Divine first signalled a penalty then restarted with a throw-in, fuelling the sense then that some venues were unwinnable.

Two shoot-outs in 2022 reset the balance, Senegal lifting the AFCON after 0-0 and 4-2 on penalties, then winning the World Cup play-off 1-0, 0-1, 3-1. For many Senegalese, that felt like payback for Cairo.

The Dakar return leg produced a new furore. After lasers were aimed at Senegal in Egypt, thousands lit up the stands, police could not seize them all and Egypt’s takers appeared with green-tinged eyes on TV.

Diambars founder Saër Seck recalled earlier Egyptian trips when police dogs disrupted a Senegal training session and players were woken at four am for supposed administrative checks, without giving a date.

The contest is also shaped by Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah, ex-Liverpool team-mates, a duel that for their countries has favoured Mané. Egyptian journalist Amr Fahmy speaks of a mental block, citing a 4-0 under-20 defeat in 2023, while many want Salah to answer Mané’s 2019 and 2022 African player of the year wins, with Salah’s in 2017 and 2018.

Coach Hossam Hassan rejects any complex, citing seven titles. Kalidou Koulibaly said Egypt are very tough.

Source: L'Équipe