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
15 mins: Senegal seem to have just change the method of their attack. They found success down the left with Mane and Ciss up against Ashour and Abdelmonem but have started booting it long trying to find runners in behind. The forward passes aren’t good enough though. Kalidou Koulibaly attempts a diagonal ball over to Sarr on the right side but overhits the pass and it goes out for an Egyptian throw in.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
12 mins: Bouna Sarr flicks a free kick into the box aiming for Famara Diedhou. The ball is headed away by Abdelmonem and comes out to Ashour on the right wing. Diedhou chases him down and wins a throw in as the ball deflects off the Egyptian right-back and goes out of play.
Senegal play the ball into the middle and pick out Ismaila Sarr. He takes a snapshot from just outside the box and forces Gabaski into a low save to his right.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
9 mins: What a start to this game! Gabaski comes to the rescue for Egypt again. He saved a penalty agains Ivory Coast in the last-16, stopped two more in the shootout against Cameroon in the semi-final and denied Senegal the lead now in the final. What a vital contribution from the Egyptain goalkeeper.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
6 mins: SAVED! Mohamed Abou Gabal (Gabaski) denies Sadio Mane from the penalty spot! He’s made to wait as Saliou Ciss receives some treatment following Abdelmonem’s tackle.
Mane elects for power and smokes it down the middle. Gabaski dives to his right, gets to hands to the ball and palms it away!
Penalty to Senegal!
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
4 mins: Just four minutes in and Senegal have a fantastic opportunity to take the lead! Saliou Ciss makes a fine run off the ball and it gets chipped over Emam Ashour to him. He brings it down and darts into the box. Mohamed Abelmonem is caught on his heels and he slides across, misses the ball and brings down the left-back!
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
3 mins: Hamdy Fathy gives away a free kick over on the left side of his own half and Senegal play it quickly. Sadio Mane attempts to link up with Idrissa Gueye to creat some space on the wing but the return pass doesn’t reach him.
Senegal win the ball back quickly though this time Mane is sent down the wing. He brings it to the edge of the box and attempts to get past Mohamed Abdelmonem who wins the ball with a well timed tackle.
Senegal 0 - 0 Egypt
Kick off: Egypt’s coach Carlos Quieroz looks on the from the stands after his sending off in the semi-final. He’ll manage the game from the stands via radio whilst his counterpart Aliou Cisse is in the dugout.
Senegal get the final underway with a long ball up the pitch, Egypt bring the ball under control and work it down the right wing. A diagonal pass comes into the Senegal box but safely bounces through to Edouard Mendy.
AFCON 2022: Senegal vs Egypt
So, here we are. The final of the Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal have been heavily backed to win the tournament but they’re up against the most successful nation in the competition’s history.
The players make their way onto the pitch at the Olembe Stadium in Cameroon. The two national anthems are sung, cheers and applause erupt around the ground.
History awaits for the winners. Kick off is up next...
AFCON 2022: Senegal vs Egypt
Since Mo Salah’s debut at the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2017 he’s been directly involved in 68 shots at goal for Egypt (41 shots, 27 chances created), only Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri (70 – 40 shots, 30 chances created) has been involved in more in this time.
Sadio Mané has been directly involved in nine (six goals, three assists) of Senegal’s last 14 goals at the Africa Cup of Nations (64%), having either scored (2) or assisted (2) in each of his last three matches. The forward could register goal involvements in four consecutive games in the competition for the first time.
AFCON 2022: Senegal vs Egypt
Senegal have scored nine goals from 81 attempts at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations - only Cameroon (11/91) have a better shot conversion rate than the Teranga Lions at this year’s tournament.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s rate of just 5.3% (4/76) is the lowest among teams to progress to the knock-out rounds.
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