Senegal won the Cup of African Nations. Great emotions, penalty kicks were decisive

In the final of 2022 there was a clash, during which many fans sharpened their teeth. Senegal met Egypt, and that meant a duel between two great stars – Sadio Mane (Senegal) and Mohamed Salah (Egypt). The Senegalese were the favorites, but Egypt wanted to make another surprise at this tournament.

Salah outsmarted Mane. Senegalese shot a penalty penalty

Sunday’s final could have started perfectly for the national team. Already in the fourth minute of the game of speeding Saliou Cissa cut Mohamed Abdelmon in the penalty area and referee Victor Gomes from South Africa dictated the eleven.

He was about to take the ball and then fellow Liverpool star Egyptian Mohamed Salah approached his goalkeeper to tell him how his Anfield teammate would strike. What’s more, after a while Mane also approached Gabaski to suggest something else. This psychological war was won by Salah, because Mane’s strong shot from the penalty spot from eleven meters was perfectly defended by Gabaska’s Egyptian goalkeeper.

In the following minutes, not much happened, although the Senegalese had the initiative. But just before the break, he could have hit the net. The star of the Egyptian team performed a great individual action on the right wing, but his shot from several meters was perfectly saved by Edouard Mendy. After 45 minutes it was 0-0 in Yaoundé.

Senegal’s fruitless domination. Leaders did not exist

The second part of the match was similar – Senegal dominated, and Egypt tried to look for single chances of scoring the winning goal. And he was close when Marwan Hamdi missed his head in a great situation, in a great situation.

However, the Senegalese people made more attempts – Idriss Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyate, Saliou Ciss and Bamba Dieng tried, but none of them managed to beat Gabaski. However, the leaders of both teams – Mane and Salah were not visible. A goalless draw after 90 minutes meant overtime in this not very exciting game, already seventh in the entire tournament.

With the extra 30 minutes ahead Senegal had a clear advantage, with Bamba Dieng being his most active player. The striker, however, lost the duel with Gabaski twice. First, he was not able to defeat him with a flat shot from several meters, and a few minutes later he was also unable to hit his head. Both attempts were effectively defended by the Egyptian goalkeeper.

In the second part of the extra-time, Dieng, in turn, blew from a distance, but Gabaski did not let himself be surprised once again. At the end he finally attacked. The most dangerous was another blow from Marwan Hamdi, this time from a dozen or so meters, against the crossbar, but Edouard Mendy remained vigilant in the goal and hit the ball. Therefore, the penalty kicks were to decide about the African championship.

Criminal this time not for Egypt. Senegal is the champion of Africa!

The eleven were better performed by the Senegalese. In four series Gabaska only defended Buona Sarr’s shot, while Edouard Mendy won the war of nerves with Mohanad Lasheen, and previously Mohamed Abdelmon only hit the post.

Senegal was leading 3-2 before the last round, and Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah were to perform penalties in the fifth round. However, only the first one approached the ball, which this time hit as hard and in the same direction as with the unused eleven from the beginning of the match, but this time his shot was definitely more precise. Senegal won in penalties 4: 2 and won the African Nations Cup for the first time in history.