Salah v Mane: Liverpool’s AFCON duo battle for glory only one can taste

Football is hardly ever devoid of narratives and Senegal’s progress to this year’s Africa Cup of Nations final meant added excitement and pre-game storylines were a guarantee.

The potential opponents were Cameroon or Egypt, either match-up accompanied by its unique narrative.

Facing the Indomitable Lions, the side that hurt the Lions of Teranga’s Afcon dream in 2002 may have been the West African nation’s preferred final. Indeed, nearly every Senegalese would have relished the prospect of avenging that loss from two decades back on Cameroonian soil.

However, the host nation’s defeat on penalties by the Pharaohs means Senegal will have to make do with playing Africa’s greatest side, an encounter that is not without its fascinating sub-plots.

Egypt were beaten by a late Vincent Aboubakar strike in the 2017 AFCON final and Senegal succumbed to a fortuitous Baghdad Bounedjah effort two years later. So, the runners-up from the last two editions of the tournament face-off on Sunday knowing one will claim African football’s finest prize.

Without a doubt, there is pressure, just as much as there is an ambition to finally right the wrongs of those defeats by Cameroon and Algeria respectively.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, totems of Egypt and Senegal, recognise just why this year’s final means a lot to supporters.

Both frontmen featured in the aforementioned losses, and they must have yearned for the opportunity to reach another final. Sunday sees that desire granted.

It would be erroneous to play down the pair’s importance to their respective national teams. Their star quality and decisiveness have often given supporters hope even when despondency could have ensued after 2017 and 2019.

In that context, maybe this final was