Sadio Mane scores the winning penalty as Senegal beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations, making up for missing a penalty early in the game after the final ended goalless following extra time.
The Pharaohs fell short of winning a record-extending eighth AFCON title whiles the Teranga Lions will celebrate finally winning the tournament
Mane had seen Mohamed Abou Gabal save his seventh-minute penalty at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde after Saliou Ciss was brought down in the penalty area of Egypt.
After 120 minutes of play, the match went down to the penalty shootout, all three of Egypt’s knockout games before the final also went to extra time, and two of them to penalties, and Egypt seemed to be playing for another shootout an exercise which the Pharaohs succeeded twice against Côte d'Ivoire (eighth final) and Cameroon (semi-final).
Senegal had lost two finals previously, including against Algeria at the last African Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2019, when Mané was left inconsolable.
The result was also special for Senegal coach Aliou Cissé, who was the team’s captain and missed the decisive penalty in a shootout when Senegal lost the 2002 final against Cameroon. Cissé was also coach for the 2019 disappointment.
This time Mané provided the winning moment. He raced off to joyously celebrate with teammates but also returned to spend some time consoling Salah, who was in tears.
Senegal's celebrations followed a disappointing final, the fifth in the last 11 editions of the tournament to be decided in a shoot-out after a goalless draw.
Egypt had already twice won finals that had been settled on penalties after finishing 0-0.
"African champions. What a game! What a team! You did it. Beautiful moment of football, beautiful moment of communion and national pride. Congratulations to our heroes," Senegalese President Macky Sall tweeted after the Lions' win Sunday night
Senegal's President Macky Sall declared Monday a public holiday to celebrate the national football team's first ever African Cup of Nations crown following their victory and the team will be decorated by Sall on Tuesday at the presidential palace in Dakar
