Senegal beat Egypt on penalties to win maiden African Cup of Nations

After winning their last six penalty shootouts, Egypt were finally beaten as a strong Senegal side got the better of them in the final of the African Cup of Nations. This is Senegal's first African title.

After the game ended in a 0-0 draw, Senegal's Sadio Mane scored the winner for his country in the shootout after Egypt missed two penalties.

Mane had missed his spot-kick earlier on in regular time (7th minute), saved by Abou Gabal. The strong Senegalese side predictably dominated the game from the start as Egypt sat back and soaked in the pressure.

Mane's Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah seemed to have told his goalkeeper which way to go to stop the early penalty that Egypt conceded.

Egypt, who have been accused of resorting to 'anti-football' tactics of feigning injuries, hounding the match officials and dirty tackles throughout the tournament, were at it again in the final. Every Senegal attack was met by strong opposition, sometimes a bit excessive.

But the Senegalese did not take it lying down and replied pound for pound. There were as many as 53 fouls in the game and six yellow cards.

Senegal had lost the last two finals of the tournament, the closest they came to lifting the trophy. It was Mane who missed the penalty in the 2017 final and was left sobbing after the 2019 one. This time, he had the last laugh against the seven-time champions.

Egypt was without head coach Carlos Queiroz, who was banned from the touchline after receiving a red card in the semifinal.

“It’s been long. It’s been difficult. Sometimes complicated. But we never gave up,” said Senegal coach Aliou Cisse after the final.

The first continental trophy was also special for Cisse, who, as the team’s captain, missed the decisive penalty in the shootout of the 2002 final against Cameroon. He was also coach for the 2019 defeat.