Mané scores decisive penalty as Senegal beat Egypt to win Africa Cup of Nations

The longer the game went on, the less likely it seemed that Senegal could triumph. Egypt are the masters of game-management, the kings of the shootout and Senegal, entangled in their own neuroses about having never won the tournament, seemed never quite to regain their belief after Sadio Mané missed an early penalty. But somehow, despite all the spoiling of Egypt and almost despite themselves, it was Senegal who lifted the Cup of Nations.

This was a terrible final to end what has been a largely terrible tournament, won ultimately as Mané converted in the shootout after Édouard Mendy had saved from Mohana Lasheen.

There are rarely goals in Cup of Nations finals: just 10 in the last 10, four of which have gone the distance to penalties after 0-0 draws. And there are rarely goals in games involving Senegal or Egypt. Senegal had negotiated their way to this stage scoring nine goals and conceding just two; of those 11 goals, only one had come in the first half. Egypt had scored four and conceded two in six games and only three of those had come in the first half.

So it was a major surprise when Saliou Ciss, Senegal’s marauding left-back, was scythed down in the area after three minutes, and perhaps less of a surprise when Mané’s penalty was well saved by Abou Gabal. Mohamed Salah had spoken to the Zamalek goalkeeper before his Liverpool teammate took it; Mané reacted by pointing where he was going to aim, before smashing his kick central.

He had only recently returned to penalty duty after missing the vital kick against Cameroon in the 2017 quarter-final and then against Kenya and Uganda in 2019. Although he did score against Zimbabwe in the group stage, maybe celebrity shouldn’t determine who takes the spot-kicks.

Abou Gabal