Senegal's President has declared Monday a public holiday to celebrate the national football team's first Africa Cup of Nations title following their victory against Egypt, public television announced.
Sadio Mane converted the winning penalty in a 4-2 shootout victory over Egypt at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Sunday, denying the Pharaohs a record-extending eighth continental title. The game had finished goalless after extra time.
Macky Sall, who had been due to visit Comoros at the end of a trip that took in Egypt and Ethiopia, cancelled the last leg in order to welcome the triumphant Lions on their return to Dakar at 1pm GMT Monday, RTS public television said.
Afcon final 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
After two previous final defeats in 2002 and 2019, Senegal finally claimed their first Cup of Nations title.
The Lions will be decorated by President Sall on Tuesday at the presidential palace in Dakar, RTS television said.
"The president of the republic declared Monday a public holiday, a paid day off, following the brilliant victory of the Lions," RTS said, citing a presidential decree.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was due to fly to Abu Dhabi following the conclusion of Afcon to link up with Chelsea, who take on Al Hilal in the semi-finals of the Fifa Club World Cup on Wednesday.
The English club have not specified when Mendy is due in the UAE, and it remains to be seen whether he will take part in the celebrations in Dakar.
Chelsea train in Abu Dhabi
-
Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech training in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Fifa Club World Cup. All images by Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Chelsea's Ross Barkley training in Abu Dhabi. -
Chelsea defenders Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta. -
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku stretching with teammates. -
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante at training. -
Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz during training. -
Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah passes the ball at training. -
Chelsea assistant coach Arno Michels. -
Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger stretching during training. -
Timo Werner with his Chelsea teammates. -
Chelsea training in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Fifa Club World Cup. -
Chelsea's Kai Havertz. -
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante. -
Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah. -
Chelsea training in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Fifa Club World Cup. -
Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, centre, at training. -
Chelsea attacker Ross Barkley. -
Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah. -
Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech shares a joke with Romelu Lukaku. -
Chelsea assistant coach Arno Michels talks to the squad at training. -
Chelsea's Andreas Christensen. -
Chelsea wingback Reece James. -
Chelsea train ahead of the Fifa Club World Cup. -
Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku.
