Senegal vs Egypt LIVE: Afcon final penalty shootout result and reaction as Sadio Mane scores winner
Follow live reaction from the Africa Cup of Nations final where Senegal defeated Egypt in Cameroon
Follow live reaction from the Africa Cup of Nations final after Senegal beat Egypt to win what has been a thrilling tournament in Cameroon. After four weeks of competition, the final saw the continent’s two best players in Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah compete for a first international honour, with both star forwards having played integral roles in their respective nation’s run to the final.
An intense contest went all the way to penalties where Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy kept out substitute Mohanad Lasheen’s attempt, leaving Liverpool’s Mane, who had earlier missed a spot kick in normal time, to step up and win it. And the Reds striker made no mistake from 12 yards a second time around to secure a 4-2 victory and give his country a first-ever victory in the tournament.
It was no more than Senegal deserved after dominating for long periods only to be denied repeatedly denied by Egypt goalkeeper Gabaski as the game finished goalless after 120 gruelling minutes. Mane’s winning kick sparked jubilant scenes for Senegal and deep disappointment for Egypt.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
44 mins: Salah makes a run into the right side of the box and brings a chipped pass under control on his way into the centre. He shuffles around Bouna Sarr and sweeps a left-foot strike at goal that Edouard Mendy clings on to.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
42 mins: Diallo switches the plau out to Kouyate on the right side but he can’t keep it in play. Mane intercepts a poor squared ball and bursts into the box. He knocks it short to Gueye but he’s pounced on almost immediately and Egypt line their lines.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
39 mins: El Wensh clips Sarr inside of Egypt’s half and Senegal win a free kick. Sarr whips the ball into the box and picks out Diedhou just inside the 18-yard line. He whips a header towards goal but Gabaski clings on to the effort and keeps it out.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
36 mins: Mohamed knocks the ball over to Salah on the right but can’t collect the return pass as he makes a run into the box. Senegal work the ball clear and sweep up the pitch. It comes over to Ismaila Sarr on the inside right. He’s in two minds whether to cross or shoot and gets caught in between the two with a soft effort that floats over the crossbar.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
33 mins: Good defending from Abdou Diallo. Egypt boot the ball long and Mostafa Mohamed flicks the ball on to Mo Salah. He knocks the ball past Koulibaly and sprints after it but Diallo is well positioned a couple of yards deeper and beats Salah to the ball in order to clear the Senegal lines.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
30 mins: Here we go. Mo Salah finds himself in possession on the right wing. He goes on a brilliant run into the box, shaking off a couple of tackles and avoidin four defenders before rolling the ball onto his left-foot and firing off a shot. Edouard Mendy drops to his left and smothers the ball to deny the Egyptian captain an opener.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
27 mins: Mane drifts inside and receives the ball. He lays it off to Cheikhou Kouyate who knocks it out to Ciss on the left. The left-back floats a cross into the area but it doesn’t drop for Diedhou and Ahmed Abou El Fotouh heads the ball clear.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
24 mins: How many chances does Sadio Mane need?! Ismaila Sarr once again carries the ball into the box. He shimmies away from El Wensh and puts another dangerous cross into the box. Emam Ashour throws himself at the ball abut misses it. He comes to Mane but he can’t control the ball and it bounces out of the penalty area.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
21 mins: There’s a communication breakdown between Amr El Soleya and Mohamed Marmoush. El Soleya threads the ball into the Senegal centre-backs but Marmoush checks his run and the ball rolls safely through to Edouard Mendy in goal.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
18 mins: Mohamed Marmoush gets clipped by Nampalys Mendy and feels the aftereffects of the tackle as the Senegal midfielder is shown a yellow card.
Chance! Massive chance for Senegal as Ismaila Sarr receives Kalidou Koulibaly’s diagonal this time. He carries the ball into the right side of the box and squares it into the six-yard area. Sadio Mane and Emam Ashour are shoulder-to-shoulder and the defender does just enough to stop Mane poking it into the back of the net over by the far post.
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