Salah-Mane Foul at AFCON Semifinal Sparks Brawl as Liverpool Icons Clash

In a heated AFCON semifinal clash on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Egypt's Mohamed Salah and Senegal's Sadio Mané—former Liverpool teammates turned fierce rivals—ignited chaos with a controversial foul that led to a full-scale brawl.

The tension boiled over in the Senegal vs. Egypt matchup, pitting two African superstars against each other once more. Salah, leading Egypt's charge for AFCON glory, tangled with Mané during a fierce midfield battle. Witnesses described Salah delivering a reckless challenge on Mané, clipping his ankle with a studs-up tackle that the Senegalese forward deemed malicious. Mané, known for his fiery temperament, reacted instantly, shoving Salah to the ground and sparking a melee involving players from both sides.[2][3][4]

Referees struggled to restore order as benches emptied, with punches thrown and officials surrounded. VAR reviewed the incident, awarding Egypt a penalty for a prior foul on Mostafa Mohamed—echoing Salah's dramatic rescue against Mozambique in the group stage—but initially cautioning Mané for his retaliation. Salah coolly converted the spot-kick, keeping Egypt alive, yet the foul overshadowed the drama.[1]

This wasn't their first rodeo. The Liverpool legends shared a telepathic partnership at Anfield, scoring prolifically together, but off-pitch bad blood simmered. Reports of a dressing-room bust-up and Mané's frustration over Salah's spotlight fueled their 2022 split, with Mané departing Bayern Munich amid Egypt's AFCON heartbreak—ironically blocked by Senegal.[4][5]

Fans relished the "rivalry reignited," with betting tips highlighting the stakes: Senegal's defense vs. Egypt's attack. Mané, post-red card in a recent club tie, committed 12 fouls en route, underscoring his aggression.[2][3] As dust settled, the semifinal hung in balance, symbolizing unfinished business between the ex-Reds icons chasing continental dreams.

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