Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane incident sparks heated scenes and suspension from AFCON final

The article examines the latest flashpoint in the complex relationship between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané after a fiery incident during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final between Egypt and Senegal. Early in the second half, Salah fouled his former Liverpool teammate Mané near the halfway line, clipping him from behind as the Senegal star drove forward. The challenge sparked uproar on both benches, with substitutes and staff from each side pouring towards the touchline and clashing in a heated confrontation before coaches and officials restored order.[1]

While players on the pitch were keen to continue, the scuffle on the sidelines underlined the emotional charge surrounding the meeting of two of Africa’s biggest icons, whose international rivalry has increasingly mirrored their club-level competitiveness. The article notes that this latest flashpoint follows years of underlying tension dating back to their time together at Liverpool, famously highlighted by Mané’s visible fury at Salah’s perceived selfishness during a 3–0 win at Burnley in 2019. That incident, although publicly downplayed, was seen as symptomatic of a growing frustration over Salah’s increasingly individualistic play and the pair’s competing ambitions.[2][3]

In the AFCON context, the Salah–Mané duel has already produced some of the most dramatic moments in recent African football, with Mané converting the decisive penalties that denied Salah both the 2021 AFCON title and a place at the 2022 World Cup. Their latest confrontation in this semi-final again emphasised how much is at stake for both: personal legacy, national expectation, and the chance to shape the continent’s biggest tournament. The touchline fracas also had direct consequences, with Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra booked in the aftermath, ruling him out of the AFCON final through suspension if Senegal progressed.[1]