LIONS OF TERANGA BEAT PHARAOHS TO WIN TITLE
Senegal defeated Egypt on penalties on Sunday night after a 0-0 draw to clinch their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title. This was the second Africa Cup of Nations final for both teams in the last three tournaments as both teams had previously finished as runners-up in their prior tournament final appearance. Egypt reached the final in 2017 in Gabon and lost 2-1 to Cameroon while Senegal lost to Algeria in 2019 in a 1-0 defeat in Cairo, Egypt.
The game got off to a bright start as Senegal, the no.1 ranked nation on the continent looked to set the tone in the game early on. Their early pressure paid off as Egypt center back Mohamed Abdelmonem brought down a marauding Sadio Mane inside the box within the first four minutes. South African referee Victor Gomez, pointed to the penalty spot awarding the Senegalese a chance to take an early lead. Sadio Mane stepped up to take the penalty and hit it straight down the middle but Egypt’s goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal made an incredible save.
That save fired up the Egyptians who looked to take advantage of Senegal’s missed opportunity with Mohamed Salah cutting inside the box and releasing a shot towards goal. Senegal and FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year 2021 Edouard Mendy were up to the task and made an easy save.
Watford winger Ismaila Sarr, who was released by the club to join Senegal before their quarterfinal clash with Equatorial Guinea, then looked to create chances down the right flank, beating his man and hitting crosses across the face of goal. Sadio Mane could not get himself on the end of the two crosses as chances went begging.
Chances came for both teams as Mane won a couple of freekicks just outside the area in the second half but Idrissa Gana Gueye and Saliou Ciss could not keep their shots on target, sending the ball flying over the bar. Egypt also won a couple of freekicks via Mo Salah and Mohamed Hamdy after fouls by Kalidou Koulibaly but could not capitalize. Marwan Hamdy got on the end of a well-hit Zizou freekick with a header but glanced it over the bar.
Both teams had a solid defensive foundation and neither could break through but a chance befalling Senegal from an Egyptian corner saw Sadio Mane foul an Egyptian defender as he tried to grapple for the ball. Referee Victor Gomez added him to the books, a second yellow card to Senegal after captain Koulibaly’s yellow card earlier on. Regular time saw the game end goalless forcing extra time.
Mane was all-over the place for the Lions of Teranga as he played a through ball in behind for 21-year-old Bamba Dieng. The Marseille man hit the shot towards the bottom left corner but Egyptian goalie Gabaski made an incredible save to deny him.
Always trying to have an impact on the game, Dieng got on the end of two great Senegal chances, one a whipped in cross from Saliou Ciss and a well-hit shot from long range, but Mohamed Abou Gabal made two massive saves to deny him. The Egyptian shot-stopper was having the game of his life and his performance was likened to that of a certain German football legend by media online.
Egypt pushed for a late winner towards the end of regular time and forced Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who had nothing to do for much of the game, into a good save. Nothing would split the two sides after regular time and extra time, however, as the game had to be settled on penalties.
Both Senegal and Egypt scored their first two penalties via Koulibaly and Zizou, and Abdou Diallo slotted his spot-kick past Abou Gabal before Abdelmonem missed his penalty after. Bayern Munich man Bouna Sarr then saw his penalty saved by Gabaski, continuing his incredible form against penalties in the tournament and allowing the Pharaohs a chance to equal the tie at 2-2 via Hamdy.
However, after Bamba Dieng’s converted penalty, Egyptian substitute Mohanad Lasheen’s penalty was saved by Edouard Mendy. After 4 penalties, Senegal were leading 3-2. This meant that Sadio Mane’s 5th penalty could win the game and he did just that. The Liverpool man chose the bottom right corner this time around and slotted the ball past Abou Gabal, breaking the hearts of Egyptians all over the world.
Senegal had won it; their first title in 16 appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations. Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal was rightfully awarded the man of the match award for his stellar performance, as Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy won the Player of the Tournament and Goalkeeper of the Tournament awards.
Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar won the Golden Boot after scoring an incredible 8 goals, second only to Democratic Republic of Congo forward Ndaye Mulamba’s 9 goals scored in the 1974 edition of the African tournament. The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament will be a memorable one for African football, but especially for the Senegal fans, who have waited 57 years since their 1965 AFCON debut to watch their country win this coveted prize.
Senegal and Egypt will face off on March 23rd in the first leg of a third-round World Cup qualifier in Cairo before the two teams meet six days later in Dakar for the second leg. This has not been the last installment of this historic duel.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero