YAOUNDE, Cameroon: Sadio Mané delivered a first African Cup of Nations title for Senegal on Sunday by drilling the decisive penalty in a shootout into the bottom left corner to beat Egypt and his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah.
Mané kept his nerve despite having missed a penalty in the seventh minute of the game — with Salah giving his goalkeeper some advice before that first penalty — and Senegal won the shootout 4-2 after the final ended 0-0 after extra time.
Egypt missed twice in the shootout, meaning Salah, who was meant to be his team’s last penalty taker, could do nothing but watch his club teammate win it.
Senegal had lost two finals previously, including against Algeria at the last African Cup in Egypt in 2019, when Mané was left inconsolable.
This time he delivered the winning moment. He raced off to joyously celebrate with teammates but also returned to spend a moment consoling Salah, who was in tears.
The final at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, was billed as a battle between Liverpool stars Mané and Salah, who were both searching for their first major title with their country.
But it never reached the heights of a classic final despite the presence of the two superstars.
Senegal missed a series of chances in normal time and extra time, including Mané’s early penalty, which was saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal.
Egypt’s players appeared fatigued after all three of their previous knockout games also went to extra time, and they seemed to be playing for a shootout in a bid to win a record-extending eighth African title.
Egypt won shootouts in the last 16 and the semifinals to get to the final but missed two penalties in Sunday’s shootout.
Defender Mohamed Abdelmonem was the first to miss, with his penalty cannoning off the post. But Senegal’s Bouna Sarr had the next penalty saved by Abou Gabal, who had also pulled off save after save during the game to keep Egypt in it.
Mohanad Lasheen had Egypt’s fourth penalty saved by Edouard Mendy, leaving Mané to win it.
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 African Cup final. Cissé was also coach for the 2019 disappointment.
Senegal wins its 1st African Cup, beats Egypt on penalties
https://arab.news/6m6ua
Senegal wins its 1st African Cup, beats Egypt on penalties
- Senegal won the shootout 4-2 after the final ended 0-0 after extra time
- Senegal had lost two finals previously, including against Algeria at the last African Cup in Egypt in 2019
Salt and Pepper season Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ route into the ILT20 playoffs
- The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will face Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator 1 on 1 January
DUBAI: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders secured a place in the top four of DP World ILT20 Season 4 with a commanding 32-run victory over Gulf Giants in the final league match at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
The crucial win confirmed the Knight Riders’ progression to the playoffs, where they will face Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator on January 1. Desert Vipers and MI Emirates will contest Qualifier 1 on December 30, with a place in the final at stake.
A dominant 131-run opening partnership between Michael Pepper and Phil Salt laid the foundation for the Knight Riders’ success. Pepper struck 83 from 51 balls, while Salt remained unbeaten on 72 from 56 deliveries, as the pair propelled their side to a formidable total of 179 for 1.
Pepper led the charge during a brisk powerplay, racing to a half-century from just 31 balls as the Knight Riders reached 56 without loss inside the first six overs. Azmatullah Omarzai endured a costly fifth over, conceding 20 runs including three sixes, two of them launched by Pepper.
The opening pair brought up a 100-run stand in 67 balls — only the second century partnership of the season — before Aayan Khan finally broke through in the 15th over, with Pepper holing out to Mark Adair. Pepper’s innings featured six boundaries and four sixes.
Salt reached his own half-century from 44 balls in the 17th over and finished strongly, adding an unbeaten 48-run stand with Liam Livingstone (18 not out from 13 balls) as the Knight Riders plundered 18 runs from the final over.
Defending 180, Jason Holder struck early, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the opening over and later dismissing Gulf Giants captain James Vince for 19. Ajay Kumar added to the pressure by accounting for Ben Kellaway, while Sunil Narine conceded just five runs across his first two overs.
By the end of the powerplay, the Giants had slumped to 32 for 3, but Moeen Ali mounted a spirited counter-attack. The England all-rounder smashed 79 from 49 balls, reaching his half-century in 31 deliveries and briefly reviving hopes with a 45-run stand alongside Kyle Mayers.
However, Narine turned the tide decisively in the 15th over, removing Mayers and then Sean Dickson for a duck. Andre Russell sealed the contest in the 18th over, striking twice in consecutive deliveries to dismiss Moeen and Aayan Khan, as the Knight Riders closed out the innings efficiently.
The Gulf Giants were eventually restricted to 147 for 9, handing the Knight Riders a comprehensive victory.
Player of the match Pepper said the innings was built on discipline and smart decision-making.
“It was about being patient and waiting for the right match-ups,” Pepper said. “When the spinners came into the attack, Salt allowed me to face most of the deliveries and I was happy to take responsibility. As a group, we just need to keep putting in the hard work.”
Gulf Giants captain James Vince acknowledged his side fell short on the day.
“It was a surface where they scored 20 to 30 runs above par,” Vince said.
“We weren’t able to strike early with the ball, and full credit to the way Pepper and Salt went about their innings. Moeen played a really good knock for us, but six losses in a row is tough to take.”
