After A Penalty Shootout, Senegal Wins The 2022 African Nations Cup

The Teranga Lion of Senegal won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after defeating Egypt in a penalty shootout in Cameroon’s final.

Senegal’s 4-2 win over Egypt’s Pharaohs marked their entry into the exclusive club of African nations who have won the continent’s most valuable prize.

After both teams failed to score a goal during the 120-minute match on Sunday, the game was decided by a penalty shootout.

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy forced the Pharaohs to miss spot-kicks in the penalty shootout, including one from Mohanad Lasheen, to give Sadio Mane the chance to win it in Yaounde’s Olembe Stadium.

The Liverpool striker, who had earlier seen a chance saved by Pharaoh’s goalkeeper Gabaski in the seventh minute, scored the game-winning penalty as Senegal finished with four converted kicks to their opponent’s two.

Gabaski had made three superb saves in extra time from Senegal’s Bamba Dieng, but could only deny the AFCON winners one spot-kick shot by Bayern Munich defender Bouna Sarr before the shootout.

All four of Egypt’s knockout games at the tournament had gone the whole distance before the final, and the North Africans had beaten Ivory Coast and host Cameroon on penalty kicks en route to the final.

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By the time the match went to a shootout, Gabaski had already saved four penalties in the tournament, but the 33-year-old was on the wrong end this time.

The Senegalese have failed to clear the final hurdle in both the 2002 and 2019 finals, finishing second.