Parading AFCON Trophy In Dakar Means More To Mane Than Champions League Glory

CAIRO, Egypt- Senegal star Sadio Mane says helping Liverpool win the Champions League was special, but his "absolute dream" is parading the Africa Cup of Nations trophy through the streets of Dakar. 

The west African team known as the Teranga Lions are two victories away from fulfilling the dream of their 27-year-old talisman, starting with a semi-final against Tunisia in Egypt Sunday.   

"Going to Dakar with the trophy would be extraordinary," said Mane, who shared the Premier League Golden Boot award last season with fellow Africans Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. 

"My absolute dream is to help Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations -- that would surpass even what I achieved with Liverpool in the Champions League.

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"We have to accept being among the favourites and many people are assuming we will play Algeria in the final," said the scorer of three goals so far in the tournament.

"All four semi-finalists are quality sides and all can go on and win this competition. The champions will be the team that wants the trophy the most." 

Three hours after Senegal and Tunisia kick off in the expected mid-afternoon Cairo heat, Algeria face Nigeria 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) away in the other semi-final.

Here, AFP Sport looks at the semi-finals with Algeria and Senegal wary favourites given the number of shocks in the knockout phase of the premier African competition.

Senegal v Tunisia

The top two ranked countries in Africa, with Senegal first, are back in the semi-finals after lengthy absences.

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It is the first time the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia have qualified for the penultimate stage since hosting and winning the 2004 edition.

Senegal lost narrowly to hosts Egypt two years later, and that was the last time they featured in a Cup of Nations semi-final.

The Senegalese have impressed more than the Tunisians en route to the last four with Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and Mane playing leading roles in a four win-one loss run.

Tunisia drew four consecutive matches before taking advantage of jaded giantkillers Madagascar to win 3-0 with captain Youssef Msakni among the goals.   

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Algeria v Nigeria

An eight-match Cup of Nations rivalry dating from the 1980 final won convincingly by hosts Nigeria continues with Algeria the slightest of favourites to reach the final. 

After four consecutive victories -- three of them without breaking a sweat -- the Algerian Desert Foxes needed a penalty shootout to eliminate the Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals. 

Algeria lost outstanding young right-back Youcef Atal to a shoulder injury in that match and coach Djamel Belmadi fears he will miss the rest of the tournament.

Nigeria recovered well from a shock group defeat by Madagascar to topple defending champions Cameroon and South Africa, who had stunned pre-tournament favourites Egypt.

"What I admire about my team is that they never give up. This refusal to accept defeat can take us a very long way," said coach Gernot Rohr.

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THE JOURNEY TO AFCON SEMIS

How Africa Cup of Nations title contenders Algeria, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia reached the semi-finals in Cairo Sunday:

Algeria

Group C

June 23  Kenya       2-0   Bounedjah 34-pen, Mahrez 43 

June 27  Senegal     1-0   Belaili 49

July 1   Tanzania    3-0   Slimani 35, Ounas 39, 45+1

Last-16

July 7   Guinea      3-0   Belaili 24, Mahrez 57, Ounas 82 

Quarter-final

July 11  I. Coast    1-1   Feghouli 20 (Algeria won 4-3 on penalties)  

Nigeria

Group B

June 22  Burundi     1-0  Ighalo 77

June 26  Guinea      1-0  Omeruo 73

June 30  Madagascar  0-2

Last-16

July 6   Cameroon    3-2  Ighalo 19, 63, Iwobi 66  

Quarter-final

July 10  S. Africa   2-1  Chukwueze 27, Troost-Ekong 89

Senegal

Group C

June 23  Tanzania    2-0  Keita 28, Diatta 64   

June 27  Algeria     0-1 

July 1   Kenya       3-0  Sarr 63, Mane 71, 78-pen  

Last-16

July 5   Uganda      1-0  Mane 15

Quarter-final

July 10  Benin       1-0  Gueye 70

Tunisia

Group E

June 24  Angola      1-1  Msakni 34-pen

June 28  Mali        1-1  Khazri 70

July 2   Mauritania  0-0

Last-16

July 8   Ghana       1-1  Khenissi 73 (Tunisia won 5-4 on penalties)

Quarter-final

July 11  Madagascar  3-0  Sassi 52, Msakni 60, Sliti 90+3