Salah and Mané vie for glory as Egypt and Senegal target Cup of Nations trophy

Egypt skipper Mohamed Salah (left) will face Sadio Mané for the first time in an international match since they became Liverpool teammates in the Africa Cup of Nations final. AFP - DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO,KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

Perhaps it was prescience. Just after Liverpool striker Sadio Mané had inspired his Senegal side to a 3-1 victory over Burkina Faso to reach a second successive Cup of Nations final, coach Aliou Cissé cited the Liverpool anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone to highlight the extent of the solidarity supporting Senegal’s surge for a first continental title.

“It’s not just about me,” said the former Senegal international. “It’s the federation. It’s the players. We’ve got everyone behind us and we can feel it and it’s a good pressure for us. We’ve worked hard to be in the final.”