Striker El Hadji Diouf and captain Ferdinand Coly are battling injuries before Senegal's African Nations Cup semi-final against Egypt.

Diouf missed Senegal's 3-2 quarter-final victory over Guinea and defender Coly limped off shortly before halftime.

"Diouf has the beginnings of a groin strain and Coly has a thigh muscle problem," coach Abdoulaye Sarr told reporters, describing them as "small problems" ahead of tomorrow's game.

Sarr was later no more than hopeful for Diouf after an evening training session, telling reporters: "I am optimistic
about his chances of playing. But the final decision is down to the team doctor and I've always said since the start of the tournament that this is a squad of 23 and that we're not fixated on one player."

If Diouf could make an appearance, Coly seems highly unlikely to play after completing only a few warm-up laps of Cairo's International Stadium pitch before the session started.

Sarr's team have yet to show their true form at these finals, losing two of its three Group D games and trailing to Guinea before coming back to snatch victory.

"We had difficulties against Ghana and Nigeria, but if you look at the quality of the football we played I think the team had a good second half against Ghana and a good 80 minutes against Nigeria.

"Against Guinea, you could see the team has moved up a level. I think it's a team that knows how to prepare itself for a competition like this."