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Senegal defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations after the final went goalless after extra time. Sadio Mane scored the winning penalty kick.
The Liverpool striker had a penalty saved by Pharaohs goalkeeper Gabaski in the seventh minute.
In Yaounde’s Olembe Stadium, Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy denied Mohanad Lasheen, giving Mane the chance to win it.
In extra time, Gabaski had made three excellent stops from Senegal’s Bamba Dieng.
And in a match billed as a fight between Liverpool forwards Sadio Mane of Senegal and Mohamed Salah of Egypt, it was the former who came out on top.
Senegal has won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after two previous final defeats, while Egypt missed out on a record-extending eighth continental title, which would have also been a first for Salah.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse remarked, “It only shows that if you work hard and persevere, you will get what you desire.”
“I am overcome with emotion since the Senegalese people have yearned for this trophy for 60 years.”
Egypt had gone the distance in all four of its knockout games at the competition, defeating Ivory Coast and hosts Cameroon on penalty kicks en route to the final.
By the time the match went to a shootout, Gabaski had already saved four penalties in the tournament, but he was on the losing end this time.
Egypt made the first mistake when Mohamed Abdelmonem’s penalty hit the left-hand upright and bounced away, but Gabaski denied Bouna Sarr right away.
Lasheen’s effort, however, was saved, and Mane won it with a powerful finish into the bottom left-hand corner.
Salah, his Liverpool teammate, was not even given the opportunity to take a penalty, as the Pharaohs captain was set to finish sixth for his side.
Senegal has lost two Nations Cup finals, in 2002 and 2019.
While the Teranga Lions will be celebrating their first tournament victory, Egypt will have an opportunity to avenge themselves next month in a two-legged play-off for a spot in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
