Mon 07 February 2022:
Cameroon: Senegal won their first Africa Cup of Nations title with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out triumph over seven-time winners Egypt, with Sadio Mane scoring the winning spot-kick after missing one in the early minutes of the game.
On Sunday at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon’s Yaounde, Mane made history for the West African nation, erasing memories of the team’s 2019 setback when they fell in the final to Algeria.
In the shoot-out, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved a penalty kick from Mohanad Lasheen, giving Mane the chance to cement the win and give Senegal a well-deserved victory. Senegal had been by far the stronger side in the final but had missed multiple opportunities to win the game.
Senegal lift the AFCON trophy for the first time 🏆 pic.twitter.com/bnJuJ3t39o
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 6, 2022
Egypt owes their place in the shootout to goalkeeper Mohamed Abo Gabal, who was outstanding in keeping Senegal at bay in what was the fourth game in a row that they had played extra time in exhausting conditions.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse, who was captain of the team in 2002 when they lost the final on penalties to Cameroon following a goalless draw, may have received poetic justice for missing his penalty kick in the shoot-out.
Egypt, who had to do without suspended coach Carlos Queiroz in the dug-out, battled to get into the game and created only half-chances, with their talisman Mohamed Salah largely ineffective.
Salah was in tears at the end, having also lost the 2017 final to Cameroon and seeing his Liverpool teammate Mane seal his fate this time around.
Senegal fluffed the chance for an early lead when Mohamed Abdelmonem’s late, reckless challenge brought down left back Saliou Ciss.
Salah and Gabal had a lengthy talk before Mane came forward to attempt the penalty kick.
The latter went for power right down the middle of the goal, but his effort was saved, making it the tournament’s tenth penalty miss.
Ismaila Sarr’s trickery down the right wing caused more early problems for Egypt and his low cross was narrowly missed by Mane at the back post on two occasions.
Egypt finally caused some alarm in the Senegal box when Salah cut inside off the right and forced a good save from Mendy.
In the second half, the pattern of play remained, with Senegal doing most of the attacking and Gabal denying both Famara Diedhiou and Mane in rapid succession.
At the other end, Marwan Hamdi sent a header over, and Gabal made another fantastic save to deny substitute Bamba Dieng in the opening half of extra time.
But Senegal found the net when it mattered to take home the trophy.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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