After having waited a long time in its history, Senegal has finally been crowned African champions at the Olembé stadium in Yaoundé after beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win its first continental title on Sunday, February 6, 2022.
Senegal dominated without scoring a goal with a penalty missed by Sadio Mané in the 4th minute of play after Saliou Ciss was brought down in the penalty area of Egypt.
Sadio Mané’s powerful shoot was saved by the Egyptian goalkeeper, Gabaski, who had a great tournament in Cameroon.
Despite this missed penalty, Senegal continued its pressure with brilliant display from Ismaila Sarr on the flanks. He outwitted the left back on three occasions, in the 12th, 18th and 23rd minute but his brilliant cross couldn’t get the needed touch in the box.
The only Egyptian opportunity in the first half was created by Mohamed Salah who maneuvered his way into the solid Senegalese defense but saw his shoot deflected by Edouard Mendy for a corner. Senegal continued to dominate but remained powerless when it came to making the final move.
In the second period, the Pharaohs had their chance with Marwan Mehany alone in the Senegalese penalty area, but headed over the crossbar in the 73rd minute. At 0-0 after the end of regulation time, the South African referee, Victor Gomes, sent the players back to overtime.
During the first period of extra time, Bamba Dieng saw his header deflected for a corner by the Egyptian goalkeeper in the 110th minute.
Head to head
After 120 minutes of play, the teams engaged in a penalty shootout, an exercise which the Pharaohs succeeded twice against Côte d’Ivoire (eighth final) and Cameroon (semi-final) in the tournament.
However, it was Senegal who won 4-2, Bouna Sarr being the only one to miss his kick for the Lions. Sadio Mané, who missed the penalty in the game, scored the winning kick for the Teranga Lions. On the side of the Pharaohs, Mohamed Abdel Meneam and Mohanad Ahmed Abdelmoneim missed theirs.
Sadio Mané was adjudged the best player of the tournament whilst his team mate and Chelsea goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, won the best goalkeeper award. Cameroon’s Vincent Abubakar won the goal king award with 8 goals.
Meanwhile, this was the fifth encounter between Egypt and Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations and the first such meeting since 2006, with Egypt winning 2-1 in the semi-final on its way to lifting the trophy that year.
In their four previous meetings at the Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt and Senegal have won two games each, with three of the four matches finishing 1-0 (Egypt’s win in 2000 and Senegal’s in 1986 and 2002).
Egypt has so far played nine finals at the Africa Cup of Nations, losing the two most recent in 2021 and 2017. No team has played in the tournament’s final on more occasions than the Pharaohs of Egypt and the Black Stars of Ghana, levelled on nine each.
Senegal played its third Africa Cup of Nations final (runners-up in 2002 and 2019) and was the first side to play in consecutive finals in the competition since opponents, Egypt in 2010.
Senegal has now won its first Africa Cup of Nations title after making its 16th appearance in the competition. Meanwhile, Senegal’s President, Macky Sall, has declared Monday, February 7, 2022 a public holiday to celebrate the national football team’s first ever African Cup of Nations crown on public television announcement.
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