Liverpool team-mates Salah and Mane prepare to go head-to-head in AFCON final as Egypt face Senegal
Follow live updates from the Africa Cup of Nations final as Senegal face Egypt to decide what has been a thrilling tournament in Cameroon. After four weeks of competition, the final sees the continent’s two best players in Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah compete for a first international honour, with both star forwards having played integral roles in their respective nation’s run to the final.
Senegal, the tournament favourites, are aiming to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after they lost in the final to Algeria in 2019. They defeated Burkina Faso 3-1 in the semi-finals and after a slow start, strength in depth has proved key for Aliou Cisse’s side, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, defender Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Idrissa Gueye all helping to form a formidable starting eleven.
Egypt, meanwhile, have prevailed through two penalty shoot-outs during the knockout stages. Under veteran coach Carlos Queiroz, Egypt knocked out Ivory Coast and hosts Cameroon on spot kicks, either side of a extra-time victory over Morocco. While Salah is their talisman, the Pharaohs have frustrated their opponents thanks to their defensive shape and organisation, and are aiming to win the title for a record eighth time. Follow all the latest updates from the final below:
Senegal 0 – 0 Egypt
18 mins: Mohamed Marmoush gets clipped by Nampalys Mendy and feels the aftereffects of the tackle as the Senegal midfielder is shown a yellow card.
Chance! Massive chance for Senegal as Ismaila Sarr receives Kalidou Koulibaly’s diagonal this time. He carries the ball into the right side of the box and squares it into the six-yard area. Sadio Mane and Emam Ashour are shoulder-to-shoulder and the defender does just enough to stop Mane poking it into the back of the net over by the far post.
Michael Jones6 February 2022 19:20
Senegal 0 – 0 Egypt
15 mins: Senegal seem to have just change the method of their attack. They found success down the left with Mane and Ciss up against Ashour and Abdelmonem but have started booting it long trying to find runners in behind. The forward passes aren’t good enough though. Kalidou Koulibaly attempts a diagonal ball over to Sarr on the right side but overhits the pass and it goes out for an Egyptian throw in.
Michael Jones6 February 2022 19:17
Senegal 0 – 0 Egypt
12 mins: Bouna Sarr flicks a free kick into the box aiming for Famara Diedhou. The ball is headed away by Abdelmonem and comes out to Ashour on the right wing. Diedhou chases him down and wins a throw in as the ball deflects off the Egyptian right-back and goes out of play.
Senegal play the ball into the middle and pick out Ismaila Sarr. He takes a snapshot from just outside the box and forces Gabaski into a low save to his right.
Michael Jones6 February 2022 19:13
Senegal 0 – 0 Egypt
9 mins: What a start to this game! Gabaski comes to the rescue for Egypt again. He saved a penalty agains Ivory Coast in the last-16, stopped two more in the shootout against Cameroon in the semi-final and denied Senegal the lead now in the final. What a vital contribution from the Egyptain goalkeeper.
Michael Jones6 February 2022 19:10
Senegal 0 – 0 Egypt
6 mins: SAVED! Mohamed Abou Gabal (Gabaski) denies Sadio Mane from the penalty spot! He’s made to wait as Saliou Ciss receives some treatment following Abdelmonem’s tackle.
Mane elects for power and smokes it down the middle. Gabaski dives to his right, gets to hands to the ball and palms it away!
Michael Jones6 February 2022 19:08
Penalty to Senegal!
4 mins: Just four minutes in and Senegal have a fantastic opportunity to take the lead! Saliou Ciss makes a fine run off the ball and it gets chipped over Emam Ashour to him. He brings it down and darts into the box. Mohamed Abelmonem is caught on his heels and he slides across, misses the ball and brings down the left-back!
Michael Jones6 February 2022 19:06
Senegal 0 – 0 Egypt
3 mins: Hamdy Fathy gives away a free kick over on the left side of his own half and Senegal play it quickly. Sadio Mane attempts to link up with Idrissa Gueye to creat some space on the wing but the return pass doesn’t reach him.
Senegal win the ball back quickly though this time Mane is sent down the wing. He brings it to the edge of the box and attempts to get past Mohamed Abdelmonem who wins the ball with a well timed tackle.
Michael Jones6 February 2022 19:04
Senegal 0 – 0 Egypt
Kick off: Egypt’s coach Carlos Quieroz looks on the from the stands after his sending off in the semi-final. He’ll manage the game from the stands via radio whilst his counterpart Aliou Cisse is in the dugout.
Senegal get the final underway with a long ball up the pitch, Egypt bring the ball under control and work it down the right wing. A diagonal pass comes into the Senegal box but safely bounces through to Edouard Mendy.
Michael Jones6 February 2022 19:01
AFCON 2022: Senegal vs Egypt
So, here we are. The final of the Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal have been heavily backed to win the tournament but they’re up against the most successful nation in the competition’s history.
The players make their way onto the pitch at the Olembe Stadium in Cameroon. The two national anthems are sung, cheers and applause erupt around the ground.
History awaits for the winners. Kick off is up next…
Michael Jones6 February 2022 18:57
AFCON 2022: Senegal vs Egypt
Since Mo Salah’s debut at the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2017 he’s been directly involved in 68 shots at goal for Egypt (41 shots, 27 chances created), only Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri (70 – 40 shots, 30 chances created) has been involved in more in this time.
Sadio Mané has been directly involved in nine (six goals, three assists) of Senegal’s last 14 goals at the Africa Cup of Nations (64%), having either scored (2) or assisted (2) in each of his last three matches. The forward could register goal involvements in four consecutive games in the competition for the first time.
Michael Jones6 February 2022 18:54