Senegal Are Champions Of Africa
07 February 2022
Zim GBC News
Jeremiah Harrison
Sports Reporter
Senegal were crowned the champions of African Football in a match that was dubbed ‘Liverpool versus Liverpool’ last night in Cameroon.
The Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, finals pitted two of England’s Liverpool FC players against each other at Olembe stadium in Yaoundé was full of thrills.
Having played two hours of football without a goal, Sadio Mane of Senegal beat his teammate at Liverpool, Mohammed Salah, to lift the AFCON accolade.
Senegal defeated Egypt by 4-2 on penalty shootings.
Three minutes into the game Egypt committed a foul in the penalty area and South African referee Victor Gomez awarded a penalty to the Lions of Teranga.
Egyptian goalkeeper, Abou Gabaski Gabal, became a hero of the moment after he saved Sadio Mane’s penalty.
Mane had two more glaring chances that he failed to convert.
Mohammed Salah was not to be left out as he forced two saves from Senegalese goalkeeper Eduardo Mendy.
World number one goalkeeper Eduardo Mendy, who plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League denied Salah clear chances in the late minutes of the first half.
It was a battle of goalkeepers as the Senegalese Mendy and Gabaski the Egyptian, as they both exhibited brilliant reflexes.
After 90 minutes of play with no goal behind either net, the game stretched to the extra time and still the added time do not produce a winner.
The match was to be decided on penalties.
Gabaski saved one penalty.
Egypt missed the target. Mendy saved one spotkick before Mane concluded by slotting the ball beyond Gabaski’s reach.
Senegal goalkeeper Mendy was named the Continental goalkeeper of the tournament, whereas his team mate Sadio Mane was named TotalEnergies Man of the Tournament.
Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar walked away with a golden boot with 8 goals behind the net and emerged the top goal scorer of the tournament.
Cameroon walked away with bronze medal after defeating Burkina Faso on Saturday in penalty shootout.
Cameroon were down by 3-0 and they came from behind to equalise to 3 all after 90 minutes of play, Vincent Aboubakar with a brace tallying up to 8 goals in this year’s AFCON Edition.
They won by 5-3 on penalties after Andre Onana the Cameroon goalkeeper saved one penalty in the shootout.
The AFCON 2023 edition is set for Ivory Coast, and the qualifiers will begin next month.
Zim GBC News