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After a goalless 120 minutes against Egypt on Sunday, Senegal's standout player Sadio Mane sealed AFCON title for the Lions of Teranga. Senegal won their first Africa Cup of Nations title with a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Egypt, with Sadio Mane avenging an earlier penalty miss with the clinching spot-kick.
The Lions of Teranga were defeated by Algeria in the 2019 final, but they finally got their hands on the trophy with a stunning shoot-out triumph at Olembe Stadium on Sunday after a fairly goalless 120 minutes. Mane had an early penalty saved by Mohamed Abou Gabal, and he was lucky to still be on the pitch for the penalty kicks after avoiding a second yellow card for a clear dive.
After Edouard Mendy had kept away Mohanad Lasheen's feeble effort from 12 yards, the Liverpool forward got the last laugh, blasting low past Abou Gabal to send the travelling Senegal fans into raptures. After Mohamed Abdelmonem pulled down Saliou Ciss inside the penalty area, Mane missed a fantastic opportunity to put Senegal ahead in the seventh minute, with Abou Gabal saving his powerful spot-kick.
Soon after the break, Mohamed Salah exploded into life, forcing Mendy to make a smart stop at his near post with a powerful left-foot strike, while Cheikhou Kouyate flashed wide from long range at the other end. As Egypt stepped up the pressure in the second half, Abdelmonem and Marwan Hamdy both missed the target with headers, but they were unable to prevent the game from going to extra time.
During the extra time, Abou Gabal denied Bamba Dieng three times, while Mendy pushed past Hamdy's thunderous strike in the dying stages. Early in the shoot-out, Abdelmonem and Bouna Sarr traded penalty misses before Mendy's stop from Lasheen allowed Mane the chance to complete his redemption.
Highlights of the game can be accessed below
