AFCON final: Eyes on Salah, Mane as Senegal and Egypt look for glory
- Eyes are on Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in the AFCON final between Egypt and Senegal
- Egypt are looking for record 8th title, while Senegal are looking for their first
- Mane has three goals in the tournament, while Salah has two
Senegal are set to face Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on Sunday, which will see Liverpool superstars Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah face off against each other.
Senegal, who were the runners up in the 2019 AFCON after losing to Algeria in the final, qualified for this year’s final in impressive style with a 3-1 victory over Burkina Faso, where Sadio Mane bagged a late goal to secure the win.
Egypt, on the other hand, made it to the final after a long-drawn slugfest with hosts Cameroon, who choked in the penalty shootout to crash out on home turf.
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While Senegal have looked the better side in open play in comparison to Egypt, the latter have history on their side.
Egypt have won six out of their twelve encounters with Senegal and drawn two. Further, Egypt have been far more successful in the AFCON, and have a record seven wins. Senegal, on the other hand, are still looking for their first after they came very close in 2019.
However, all eyes will be on Sadio Mane’s clash with his Liverpool teammate, the in-form Salah who has 23 goals in the Premier League and Champions League combined this season.
In the AFCON, however, Mane has edged his Egyptian teammate, with three goals and two assists to Salah’s two goals and one assist.
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Senegal, who finished top of their Group and scored three goals each in the quarter-final and semi-final, have looked in free scoring form and indeed more dominant than their to-be opponents.
However, if Egypt can nullify the Senegalese attack and the match goes to penalties, they could clinch the final: the Pharaohs have won six out of their last six shoot-outs and have been immaculate from the spot in this year’s AFCON, converting all eight penalties thus far.
Given the balance of things, it is a tight match to call, and promises to be an exhilarating watch.
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