Senegal won the game where Egypt hadn’t lost since 1984: penalties. The country is African champion for the first time in its history, after a final like this African Cup of Nations: the false rhythm as the official religion, therefore an exercise in patience for the teams, the players and those who watch them. 0-0 after extra time. 4-2 on penalties. It was therefore the strongest team in the competition (on paper) that won, against the most complicated selection to maneuver – the champion of this false rhythm, the one who, until then, rocked the best and more efficiently.
The case could have been settled in the 6th minute. Penalty, for Senegal, who failed in the final against Algeria two years ago. Short break before the shot, a player is down. It drinks, walks and chats. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, teammates in Liverpool, among the best attackers in the world and rivals in the final, then offered candy to the cameras. The first whispers something to Gabaski, his guardian. He knows the second, who is the shooter: he has a tip, surely. Mané gets involved and, teasingly, points to where he intends to shoot. Mané hits (the opposite of what he indicated) and Mané misses (Gabaski is unplayable in this game). The match then liquefied. Senegal, fresher, was the most offensive and daring. Egypt, semi-charred, was the most orderly. His plan is crystal clear: the lullaby, and attempts to find Mohamed Salah ahead – the potential future Ballon d’Or.
A CAN between small and big brothel
She had taken out the big fish to get there. In order: Ivory Coast, Morocco and Cameroon, the host country. Each time, extensions (120 minutes) and battles to sweat an ocean. Senegal, he had a soft life. His first real shock? The final, against the Pharaohs, the most successful nation on the continent – 7 coronations. Sunday evening, they touched the eighth. After all, they had the upper hand once they reached the penalty shootout (a record, a rather crazy ease at 6.50 meters) and their goalkeeper, Gabaski – Mohamed Abou Gabal of his real name. It is the beautiful story. Substitute in his club in Zamalek (Cairo club) and in selection, he was, from the eighth and the injury of the holder, hero with solid hands: 4 penalties stopped in total. The paper definitely spoke and it was one of the very best goalkeepers in the world who stole the show: Edouard Mendy, European champion with Chelsea, stopped the shot he needed.
Senegal, often criticized for its minimalist game, has shed an immense weight: that of often coming armed to the teeth and returning without big game, namely the trophy. This African Cup was strange, between Covid and messed up lawns, between small and big mess. Gold medal for the Comoros: the islanders, novices at the CAN, thus played their round of 16 against Cameroon without a professional goalkeeper (a defender therefore put on the gloves) because of a medical imbroglio (the holder in the cages had recovered from the Covid, but his authorization to return there was slow to be validated by the authorities). Senegal and Egypt meet again at the end of March for a two-way final. They face each other in the play-offs for a qualification for the World Cup in Qatar. It is decisive, of course. But is it worth a first victory in the African Cup?