Heartbreak for Egypt after Afcon final defeat brings fairy-tale run to tearful finale

The Pharaohs’ fairy-tale run in the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon has ended in tears and heartbreak. Back at home, their loss to Senegal in Sunday night’s final left a nation in a state of grief yet tinged with pride and hope.

The match in the capital Yaounde was settled in a penalty shoot-out after the two sides were locked at 0-0 after extra time. Senegal won the shoot-out 4-2, with Liverpool forward Sadio Mane scoring the winner to make amends for his miss from the spot early in the first half.

For the Pharaohs, led by Mane’s Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah, a win would have secured a record-extending eighth title in Africa’s marquee tournament. They last won the trophy in 2010 and made it to the final in 2017 when they lost to Cameroon. South Africa eliminated them in 2019 in the last-16.

Currently Africa’s top-ranked side, Senegal had remarkably never won the coveted trophy until Sunday, having reached the final twice before, including a loss to Algeria in Cairo in 2019.

Egypt and Senegal are to meet again in March in a World Cup, qualifying play-off that will send the winner to Qatar later this year.

While Senegal wildly celebrated Sunday’s win, many of the Pharaohs cried, with television images of their grief-stricken faces deepening the sense of loss felt by the millions who watched at home, cafes and tea houses.

A bustling Nile-side city of more than 20 million, Cairo was left eerily quiet after the loss. That unusual atmosphere in a city with a reputation that it never sleeps contrasted with the buzz that had filled its streets since the Pharaohs defeated hosts Cameroon in Thursday’s semi-final.

SENEGAL RATINGS: Edouard Mendy 6 - Called into action against Salah late in first half but was caught in no