What a game it was for Senegal as they made history to be the 15th team to have won the AFCON (African Cup of Nations). This is the first time they are also winning it in their history. It is a successful tournament with 100 goals scored in over 50 matches and 14 cards dished out too. This is a story of African football and everyone can see that football also lives in Africa. This is Senegal's 16th appearance in AFCON and their first time winning it.
Sadio Mane won the best player of the tournament with Mendy winning the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Aboubakar won the golden boot with 8 goals after his 2 goals helped Cameroon finish in 3rd place. Gabal Ali won the man of the match in the match against Senegal in this final. The special shout out goes to Mendy for adding another trophy to his cabinet after keeping 5 clean sheets at AFCON.
I enjoyed this game because I knew it would be evenly contested. I knew Senegal would dominate the game and Egypt would hold off so they can push the game to extra time and penalties because they seem to be good with their penalties after qualifying to the next round twice on penalties and once in extra time against Ivory Coast.
Senegal showed strength and character after restricting Egypt to half chances and of course, counterattacks. Egypt had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the game and Senegal has their goalkeeper as well to thank for being at alert at the right moments despite not being tested for most of the match. It's easy to get sloppy when you've not been tested all match but he showed his focus to turn up for his team at the right time.
Senegal had the best of chances in the game and should have put the game to bed in the 4th minute after Senegal got the penalty and converting that goal would have made it the fastest goal of the tournament but Mane stepped up and the impressive Gabal saved it to give Egypt a fighting chance to stay in the game.
I. Sarr proved his mettle on the right side of the pitch as he became a constant menace to Egyptians defence line. He used his pace and his skills so well to get in behind the defence and many times he did but there was no one to touch the ball to go over the line as he flashed his efforts across the face of the goal.
Salah had his moment too and the most notable one was when he tried to beat Mendy with a clever finish as he aimed for the top left corner of the net inside the box but Mendy was alert to keep his effort out. There was nothing to separate the two sides even though Senegal looked like they might score any minute before the final whistle. They soon allowed fatigue to set in which made it easy for Egypt to heap on the pressure on them towards the closing stages but still, the game ended as they started it.
Nothing separated the two sides even with extra 30 minutes of football to be played at extra time and penalties came where I felt Egypt would gain the advantage but Egypt lost 2 penalties to tilt the advantage to Senegal. The first one struck the bar and interestingly, Mendy saved one too. Mane would have had the last kick but when the opportunity came for him to make Senegal the winner after his side also missed one in the shoot out, he stepped up and atoned for his earlier miss in the game during normal time and beat Gabal this time around with pace and precision.
Senegal were crowned champions after winning by 4-2 on penalties and I must say that they deserved it after the number of goals they scored and how they played exciting football throughout the tournament. African football is changing and I am glad to witness it because anyone can indeed beat anyone without favouritism.
Congratulations to Senegal for being the African Champions. Two legends battled it out and one came out on top.
