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Photo: SFSI / imago images / Sebastian Frej
The winner of the Africa Cup of Nations 2022 is Senegal.
In the final, the team defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties.
It was 0-0 after 120 minutes.
Édouard Mendy saved Egypt's fourth attempt and Sadio Mané then converted after missing in regulation time.
The role of favorites before the final of the Africa Cup of Nations was clearly divided: Although Egypt went into the game as the record winner of the continental competition with seven wins, the signs were clear that the Senegalese would win.
Egypt have gone into extra time twice before
On the one hand due to the personal superiority of Liverpool star Mané and world goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, among others.
On the other hand, because of the Egyptians' exhausting knock-out phase, in which they couldn't win a single game in regular time and had to go to penalties against both Ivory Coast and hosts Cameroon.
Still, both teams showed a dedicated performance in the early stages.
Offensive actions were mostly staged via their respective Liverpool superstars Mohamed Salah or Mané.
The latter was fouled in the opponent's penalty area in the fourth minute.
However, the subsequent penalty kick (7th minute) was denied by the Egyptian keeper Gabaski, who saved his fourth penalty of the tournament.
After that, at the latest, the game was in the hands of the Senegalese, despite many ball losses and lack of concentration on both sides.
Most of the time it was played in the centre, the Egyptian team was getting deeper and was waiting for counterattacks via the two wingers Omar Marmoush and Salah.
Up until the break, they only managed to get one shot (Salah, 43'), which Mendy held easily.
Senegal continued to control the game in the second half
The Senegalese also largely controlled the game in the second half.
Sometimes through Idrissa Gueye (50th), sometimes through Mané (53rd), who each came to conclusions – without success.
Above all, Egypt's goalkeeper Gabaski, who actually started the tournament as a reserve goalkeeper and has only played from the start since his substitution against Ivory Coast, reacted quickly again and again.
But Egypt's defender Abdelmonem also headed well over the goal (69').
After that, real chances to score remained largely absent for both sides.
Another extension for Egypt
Consequently, both teams went into extra time after a goalless 90 minutes - for Egypt it was the fourth of the last four games.
Nothing decisive happened here, the decision was made in a penalty shootout.
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