AFCON 2025: Seven Lions under threat of suspension in the final

According to CAF rules, any player who is booked twice from the knockout stages is automatically suspended for the following match. On the Senegalese side, seven players are concerned and will have to approach this semi-final with extreme vigilance.

Kalidou Koulibaly
The captain of the Lions is directly concerned. Already suspended in the eighth finals against Sudan after his direct red card received during the last day of the group stage against Benin (3-0), the boss of the Senegalese defense then got a warning against Mali in the quarter-finals.
Already deprived of a final in 2019 for accumulating boxes, Koulibaly is again under the threat of a suspension that would be fraught with consequences.

Pape Gueye
Indispensable in the system of Pape Thiaw, the midfielder from Villarreal did not escape a yellow card during the very engaged quarter final against Mali. His ability to break lines and balance the game makes him a key element. Facing Egypt, he will play with a real sword of Damocles above his head.

Habib Diarra
Back in the XI since the last eight against Sudan, Habib Diarra quickly established himself as a centerpiece of the Senegalese midfielder. He too was punished during the intense fight against Mali. His hybrid profile, between power and projection, has become essential in the trio he forms with Pape Gueye and Idrissa Gana Gueye.

Nicolas Jackson
Still looking for consistency with the Lions, the Bayern Munich striker had been warned during the trap match against Sudan. A carton received in the 50th minute, before giving way three minutes later, visibly frustrated, leaving the field without greeting his partners. A warning that places him in an uncomfortable situation today.

Ismaïl Jakobs
Solid defensively, Jakobs also gets a yellow card. Faced with one of the best players on the continent, Mohamed Salah, the mission promises to be delicate. The Senegalese lateral will have to demonstrate total control to avoid the warning that would deprive him of a possible final.

Ibrahim Mbaye
Used mainly as offensive joker, Mbaye was given a warning against Mali after a late entry. His replacement status makes the threat less immediate, especially since he is not known for mood gestures or repeated mistakes.

Habib Diallo
In a quarter-final led by the South African referee Tom Abongile, known for his severity, five Senegalese players were warned. Even Habib Diallo, rarely sanctioned, did not escape it, placing him in turn under threat.

An additional challenge for Pape Thiaw
Beyond qualification, the semi-final against Egypt therefore requires a fine management of game times and intensity. Between tactical discipline and emotional control, the Lions will have to deliver an intelligent match in order not to compromise a possible final before even reaching it.