After a suspense-filled game that ended 0-0, and endured into an extra time, Senegal’s Sadio Mane netted the winning spot-kick as The Lions of Teranga beat The Egyptian Pharaohs 4-2 on penalties to clinch their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations.
The Liverpool forward had seen a seventh-minute penalty saved by Egypt keeper Gabaski but Mane held his nerve when he returned in the shootout to net the winning goal that determined the champions of the tournament.
The Liverpool star has also been crowned the Total Energies Player of the Tournament.
The Pharoah’s phenomenal goalkeeper, Gabaski had made three good saves from Senegal’s Bamba Dieng in extra time.
All four of Egypt’s knockout games at the tournament went the distance, and the North Africans had beaten Ivory Coast and host Cameroon on spot-kicks en route to the final.
Gabaski had already saved four penalties at the tournament by the time the match went to a shootout, but on this occasion, the 33-year-old was not able to emerge on the winning side.
Senegal had previously lost two Nations Cup finals, finishing runners-up in 2002 and 2019.
The two sides will meet again in March in a two-legged play-off for a spot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
