Senegal's Amdy Faye believes his side have set their sights firmly on the African Nations Cup title after overcoming an indifferent start to the competition.
The Newcastle United midfielder said that Senegal had sharpened their focus after scraping through the early rounds of the tournament and Friday's 3-2 quarter-final win over Guinea in Alexandria proved the team had turned the corner.
"We are getting stronger with each game and we know we can do something at this tournament," Faye said.
"It's been a tough competition but once you reach the semi-finals, you have a stronger sense of going on, getting to the final and winning the trophy.
"We did not do badly in the first round. We lost both our goals narrowly and because of little errors. It was hard to play Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe all in a row."
Senegal only made it to the last eight on goal difference after losing to Ghana and Nigeria in two of their three opening group matches.
However on Friday, Senegal fought back after an indifferent first half performance to score three goals in the last half an hour to beat Guinea in the first quarter-final.
Senegal now face hosts Egypt in Tuesday's semi-final in Cairo after the hosts thrashed the Democratic Republic of Congo 4-1 in their last-eight encounter.
{{/usCountry}}Senegal now face hosts Egypt in Tuesday's semi-final in Cairo after the hosts thrashed the Democratic Republic of Congo 4-1 in their last-eight encounter.
{{/usCountry}}"The team is very happy now. We were very strong and the next game is only going to be better," said Faye, a member of the Senegal side that reached the final of the Nations Cup in 2002 and the World Cup quarter-finals the same year.
Faye said his own preparations for Friday's game had been overshadowed by news of the dismissal of his club manager Graeme Souness on Thursday.
"Some of my team mates called me about that. It's very hard for the club. I have been thinking about it a lot. I'm sorry to see him go, He was one who took me to Newcastle," Faye added.