The Athletic FC

Welcome to the Athletic FC podcast with me, Ayur Akimilari.

The Afcom final lineup is set.

2021 winners Senegal versus hosts Morocco.

But what does defeat in the last four mean for both Nigeria and Mohammed Salas, Egypt.

Right, joining us now from Morocco. We've got Simon Hughes. We've also got Jay Harris.

Or should I address you as a fellow Nigerian, Jay?

Well, as you sort of highlighted, yes, I've been adopted by the Nigerian press out here. So my passport's pending, but unfortunately I won't be in the final with you, on Sunday. It's fine. Listen to this. Jay! I'm Caribbean, bro. Come on, man. He's Nigerian now, man. Barbados. Barbados. Yeah, Nigerian now. Come, man. You're Nigerian now. That's the love. If you all accept me, I'm now doing, man. He's Nigerian now. Barbados. You're Nigerian now. Come, man. You're Nigerian now.

If you will accept me, I'm Nigerian, yeah.

I christen you, Olua Harris. All right, Jets, let's get into the football. Both semifinals now done.

I guess it's not really been a tournament of many upsets. Very different to the Ivory Coast tournament in many respects.

Simon, let's start with Senegal's win over Egypt.

Manei triumphing over former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Sala once again.

Now, a lot has been written about a rivalry between both.

I didn't think there was, but can you explain a bit more about that?

How long have we got?

Right, okay.

So the relationship and the sense of rivalry was born pretty much straight away

between the pair of them when Sala signed for Liverpool.

Sala, let's not forget, Yuzerp's Mane, as the most expensive African footballer for Liverpool. Sala, let's not forget, usurped, Manet is the most expensive African footballer

for Liverpool and his arrival meant he shifted positions. So that alone creates some sense of

you know competition between the pair of them at the very least. I mean, over the years,

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