CAN 2022: Senegal beats Egypt on penalties (0-0 ap, 4-2 pens) and wins its first CAN

That’s it, Senegal won their first African Cup of Nations. The Teranga Lions won the CAN 2021 final against Egypt, after an epic penalty shootout (0-0, 4-2 on tab), Sunday in Yaoundé. After 2 lost finals (2002, 2019) and 29 appearances, the teammates of Sadio Mané, author of the winning shot on goal, allowed Senegal to finally make history. Long kept in the game by their goalkeeper Gabaski, author of several decisive parades, the Egyptian Pharaohs of Mohamed Salah suffered their second unfortunate final in three editions.

Gabaski will not have been enough

This grand finale didn’t take long to come alive. From the 4th minute, Saliou Ciss was mowed down in the box by a reckless tackle from Mohamed Abdelmonem. The first duel of the match between Sadio Mané and the Egyptian goalkeeper Gabaski therefore turned to the advantage of the last bastion of the Pharaohs, who repelled the penalty from the leader of the Lions of Teranga (7th). Ismaïla Sarr (18th, 23rd), Famara Diédhiou (38th), Idrissa Gueye (50th) and Bamba Dieng, who entered at the end of the second period, all found the last rampart of Zamalek on their way (91st, 99th, 115th). Marwan Hamdy (116th) and especially Mohamed Salah (43rd), with a clever shot at the near post, put Edouard Mendy to good use but the two teams parted after 120 minutes of play with a goalless draw.

First title in the history of Senegal

It was during the fateful penalty shootout that everything was decided. After the misses of Mohamed Abdelmonem and Mohanad Lasheen, it was Sadio Mané who took it upon himself to offer the winning shot to the Senegalese. After two failures in 2002 and 2019, the Lions of Teranga finally rise to the roof of Africa. From Dakar to Ziguinchor via Saint-Louis, the country of Jules Bocandé, El Hadj Diouf and Pape Bouba Diop can finally catch fire. Before refocusing on the qualifying play-offs for the 2022 World Cup which await him in a few weeks … against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt (March 23 and 29).