The fact that Jürgen Klopp is sitting in front of the television on Sunday evening has been relatively certain for a few days. It has been clear since Thursday that the Egyptians around Mo Salah will face the Senegalese around Sadio Mané in the final of the Africa Cup (8 p.m., Dazn and Sportdigital). For Klopp, who trains Salah and Mané at Liverpool FC, it can only end bittersweet. “One will be very happy – and the other will not,” said Liverpool’s German coach. “Both have a chance to achieve something really big.”
The latter should not be forgotten when the game in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé is inevitably stylized as a duel between Liverpool’s superstars. Because the Africa Cup of Nations has always had to contend with the fact that it was denied its own greatness and, above all, reduced to its connection to European club football. 2022 was no different.
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Even before the tournament, there was a big debate, especially in English football, about the lack of respect for the biennial competition. Klopp also described it as a “small tournament in Africa” in November and had to make it clear afterwards that he meant it ironically and not disrespectfully. The reluctance with which many European clubs dismissed their African internationals in the middle of the season was still palpable.
In part, this was based on perfectly understandable concerns. Many clubs had expressed their concerns about the host’s Corona measures and in fact it was mainly the organizational problems that will be remembered. As well as minor glitches such as refereeing mishaps in the group stage, the tournament was also overshadowed by the shocking tragedy two weeks ago when eight people died in a stampede at the Stade d’Olembé.
On the pitch, it was primarily the smaller nations that caused a stir. Not only tournament debutants Gambia and Comoros, but also underdogs like Equatorial Guinea have defied the continent’s traditional footballing powers. The team from Burkina Faso around Edmond Tapsoba from Leverkusen even made it to the semi-finals – despite a military coup at home.
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In the end, one of the favorites becomes the winner. In Senegal, who lost to the final three years ago, the longing for the first title is great. Should Aliou Cissé lead his side to victory, he would be only the second coach from sub-Saharan Africa to do so this millennium.
But that will not be a sure-fire success. Record winner Egypt may have to do without coach Carlos Queiroz, who has been suspended, but he can count on a world star who should be particularly motivated: Mo Salah has already won the Champions League, the Premier League and the Club World Cup. But according to his own statements, he does not yet have the biggest title of his career. “This title would be something completely different,” he said after the round of 16. “Because he is particularly close to my heart.”
