As Senegal get set for their crucial AFCON 2025 semi-final meeting with Egypt, captain Kalidou Koulibaly has urged caution, rejecting any suggestion that his team should be seen as favourites.
The Al-Hilal defender believes reputation and past success will not influence what happens on the pitch when the two sides meet on Wednesday at the Grande Stade de Tanger in Tangier.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the former Chelsea defender reflected on Senegal’s win over Egypt in the final of the previous Africa Cup of Nations. However, he stressed that history offers no advantage in a new contest.
“We indeed beat Egypt in the final of the last AFCON, but every match has its own history. This semi-final will be very difficult,” Koulibaly said.
The 34-year-old also praised the Egyptian team, highlighting their strong performances and consistency throughout the tournament. “We respect this Egyptian team a lot. They fully deserve their place here. They’ve had a good tournament, just like us,” he said.
Koulibaly further suggested the match could be closely contested and tactical, with little separating both sides. “It may be a closed game, but we will do everything to win it,” he concluded.
With two proud nations chasing continental glory, the semi-final promises to be tense, competitive, and decided by the smallest margins.
More Read
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
