Liverpool star Sadio Mane won his duel with clubmate Mohamed Salah as he made up for a first-half penalty miss by converting the winning spot-kick in a shoot-out to help Senegal beat Egypt and lift a maiden Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday.
The two teams were locked at 0-0 after extra-time in the final but Liverpool star Mane kept his cool in the shoot-out which his team won 4-2.
Mane had earlier wasted a chance to put Senegal ahead inside seven minutes in Yaounde when his penalty was saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal, who made multiple saves throughout the night.
However, Egypt and Salah suffered heartbreak as they chased a record-extending eighth title.
Senegal had lost two finals previously, including at the last African Cup in Egypt in 2019, when Mane was left inconsolable. This time, he delivered when it mattered.
The final at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde was billed as a battle between Liverpool stars Mane and Salah, but it was a battle of attrition.
Mane's evening got off to a very different start when, after Saliou Ciss was tripped inside the box by Mohamed Abdelmonem, he went head-to-head with Gabaski from the spot. The frontman opted for power but the Egypt keeper dived to his right to beat his attempt.
Senegal dominated the early exchanges without managing to make the pressure tell, and they feared the worst when Salah embarked upon a mazy 28th-minute run only to scuff his shot at Mendy.
However, Aliou Cisse's men continued to dominate with Gabaski's goal coming under increasing pressure in the second half .
Substitute Marwan Hamdy might have won it when he glanced a 75th-minute header across the face of goal as Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy dithered and Senegal substitute Bamba Dieng volleyed high over at the other end as time ran down, but extra time was required.
Gabaski denied Dieng seconds into the added period and then repelled his downward header and a viciously-swerving piledriver to preserve Egypt's hopes, but it was opposite number Mendy who had to be at his best to keep out Hamdy's blistering 116th-minute strike.
Player ratings
-
SENEGAL RATINGS: Edouard Mendy 6 - Called into action against Salah late in first half but was caught in no man’s land with a cross in the second, fortunately seeing the ball headed wide. AFP -
Bouna Sarr 7 - His pace attacking the right flank proved a problem for Egypt. The wing-back was unlucky with some of his crosses that weren’t converted. A poor penalty was saved too easily by Gabaski. AFP -
Kalidou Koulibaly 8 - Used his experience to position smartly against counter-attacks, while commanding the Senegal backline who displayed impressive synergy. AP Photo -
Abdou Diallo 8 - The Paris Saint-Germain centre-back used his pace to prevent Egypt attacks and he was quick to clear danger. Dominant in the air. AFP -
Saliou Ciss 8 - Was a threat throughout with his pace causing havoc when overlapping Sadio Mane. The 32-year-old’s pace was too much for the Egyptian defence in the opening minutes, winning a penalty as he was taken down inside the box. AP Photo -
Cheikhou Kouyate 6 - Made some good defensive plays but rarely involved in attack. Nampalys Mendy 6 - Rarely troubled in defensive areas as the Leicester City man made sure it was difficult to attack through the middle. AFP -
Nampalys Mendy 6 - Rarely troubled in defensive areas as the Leicester City man made sure it was difficult to attack through the middle. AP Photo -
Ismaila Sarr 7 - Unlucky not to pick up an assist with neat trickery on the right flank and two well delivered crosses, though he could have taken a little bit off the power to give Mane a chance at the backpost. AFP -
Idrissa Gueye 7 - While the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder was deployed further forward for Senegal, he often slipped back into his natural defensive habitat, breaking up a number of Egypt attacks. AFP -
Sadio Mane 8 - Missed a penalty early-on, but dispatched a penalty in he shootout with the weight of his nation on his shoulders. AFP -
Famara Diedhiou 6 - Found it difficult to trouble the defence while he was on and was eventually withdrawn by Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse. AFP -
SUB: Pape Gueye (Kouyate 66) 6 - Confident on the ball and kept the play ticking over for Senegal, adding a layer of control to the midfield. AP Photo -
SUB: Bamba Dieng (Diedhiou 77) - Had his first real chance in extra time but didn’t get the right contact with a defender pressuring him from behind. Unlucky with a swerving effort from range that forced a difficult save. AFP -
SUB: Boulaye Dia (Sarr 77) - On for Sarr close to full time but didn’t get many touches. AFP -
EGYPT RATINGS: Gabaski 9 - The Egypt goalkeeper has been one of the standout players of the tournament, and that was no different in Sunday’s final with a saved penalty against Sadio Mane. Gabaski looked sharp and was quick to get down to incoming shots, dealing with situations with confidence. EPA -
Ahmed Fatouh 8 - Battled fearlessly throughout the entire 120 minutes with his intensity matching the occasion, and he was often the Egypt defender to clear the danger. Reuters -
Mahmoud Hamdi 7 - Good interventions to stop a cross that looked like it was heading to a dangerous area. Kept Senegal’s attacking stars quiet. AFP -
Mohamed Abdelmonem 7 - The centre-back produced some good pieces of defending throughout the game, and he made up for a lapse of concentration that conceded a penalty in the opening minutes. EPA -
Emam Ashour 7 - A solid defensive game from the full-back who contributed going forward as well as being assured at the back. AFP -
Amr Soleya 6 - Didn’t make as much impact as he would have liked going forward. Replaced just before the hour-mark. EPA -
Hamdi Fathi 6 - Rarely gave away the ball and showed a good range of passing. AFP -
Mohamed Elneny 6 - Kept things simple and positioned astutely to prevent attacks building up in central areas. Reuters -
Omar Marmoush 5 - Simply not involved enough. The forward found it difficult to make space and had to keep a keen eye on Senegal’s wingbacks. AP Photo -
Mostafa Mohamed 5 - A similar story to Marmoush, but Mostafa Mohamed did isolate Diallo and Koulibaly at times which allowed space for Mohamed Salah to try and work some magic. AFP -
Mohamed Salah 7 - Drifted in and out of the game, but the Liverpool star did look dangerous when he had the ball, weaving in between defenders and getting a shot off towards goal whenever he could. AP Photo -
SUB: Trezeguet (Soleya 59) 6 - The pacey winger is normally a problem for any team but he seemed to be countered out by a fast Senegal defensive line. Looked tired in extra time. Reuters -
SUB: Zizo (Marmoush 59) 6 - Egypt seemed to lose the ball more often than not when Zizo had possession, though he did work hard to help out his defence. Scored his penalty in emphatic fashion. AFP -
SUB: Marwan Hamdi (Mohamed 59) 6 - Had to do better with his header that was unchallenged, instead sending it wide of Mendy’s goal. AFP -
SUB: Mohanad Lasheen (Fathi 99) - On for the final stage of extra time but missed the decisive penalty in the shootout. AP Photo
In the shoot-out, defender Abdelmonem was the first to miss, with his penalty cannoning off the post. But Senegal’s Bouna Sarr had the next penalty saved by Abou Gabal, who had also pulled off save after save during the game to keep Egypt in it.
Mohanad Lasheen had Egypt’s fourth penalty saved by Mendy, leaving Mane to win it.
There may be some poetic justice for Senegal manager Cisse, who was captain of the side in 2002 when they lost the final on penalties to Cameroon after a goalless draw, having missed his kick in the shootout.
Egypt, who had to do without suspended coach Carlos Queiroz in the dug-out, battled to get into the game and created only half-chances, with their talisman Salah largely ineffective.
Salah was shattered at the end, having also lost the 2017 final to Cameroon and seeing his Liverpool team mate Mane seal his fate this time round.
