Follow live reaction from the Africa Cup of Nations final after Senegal beat Egypt to win what has been a thrilling tournament in Cameroon. After four weeks of competition, the final saw the continent’s two best players in Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah compete for a first international honour, with both star forwards having played integral roles in their respective nation’s run to the final.
An intense contest went all the way to penalties where Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy kept out substitute Mohanad Lasheen’s attempt, leaving Liverpool’s Mane, who had earlier missed a spot kick in normal time, to step up and win it. And the Reds striker made no mistake from 12 yards a second time around to secure a 4-2 victory and give his country a first-ever victory in the tournament.
It was no more than Senegal deserved after dominating for long periods only to be denied repeatedly denied by Egypt goalkeeper Gabaski as the game finished goalless after 120 gruelling minutes. Mane’s winning kick sparked jubilant scenes for Senegal and deep disappointment for Egypt.