Mohamed Salah was reduced to tears as Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane struck the winning penalty for Senegal to win his country their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations. After an energy-sapping 120 minutes of action in Cameroon, we headed to spot-kicks.
It was Mane who would fire home the winning penalty after Egypt missed two crucial penalties.
Senegal could hardly believe their luck when they were awarded a penalty after just a matter of minutes.
Marauding full-back Saliou Ciss was chopped down by Egypt defender Mohamed Abdelmonem as the referee pointed to the spot.
The mind games soon begun as Salah approached his goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal – also known as Gabaski – to tell him what way his Liverpool team-mate Mane might go from 12-yards.
It was the Egypt shot-stopper who prevailed in the mental battle of whits, diving to his right to deny Mane, who rallied the crowd after fluffing his lines.
The spot-kick would prove to be the only clear-cut chance of the game despite both keepers being called into action.
Salah forced Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy into a brilliant near-post save after he cut inside and drove the ball towards the top corner.
Egypt were doing their best to break up the play and disrupt Senegal’s attacks but Aliou Cisse’s side were playing the better football and looked the most likely to break the deadlock.
There was nothing between the two sides come the end of the 90 minutes as we headed into extra-time.
Once again, it was Senegal asking serious questions as substitute Bamba Dieng forced Gabaski into two fine saves.
The goalkeeper was down smartly to his left after the Marseille man was played in behind before he denied Dieng from a header moments later.
Mane could have been shown a second yellow card for simulation when he went down easily in the first half of extra-time. The referee gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Once again, with 114 minutes on the clock, Gabaski was equal to Dieng’s low, swerving drive at goal.
Egypt then had a chance to win the game themselves when Ahmed Hamdi Hussein Hafez stung the palms of Mendy and the Senegal goalkeeper failed to punch the resulting corner clear.
Penalties would then decide where the trophy would be heading and The Pharaohs had already experienced spot-kicks on two occasions this tournament having previously beaten Ivory Coast and Cameroon en route to the final…
Senegal centre-backs Kalidou Koulibaly and Abdou Diallo scored their spot-kicks but Egypt’s Abdelmonem would miss the first penalty of the shootout – hitting the post – after team-mate Ahmed Sayed scored.
Thankfully for him, Gabaski would continue his heroics, saving Bayern Munich’s Bouna Sarr’s effort from 12-yards.
Hamdi and Dieng would then score before Lasheen missed to hand Mane the chance to win AFCON for his country…
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