Defending champion Algeria collapsed in the group stage, Cameroon failed to maintain their rank at home by failing at the gates of the final, and here we are with Senegal-Egypt, a high-level clash between two super nations of the continent.
A dream poster in the final of the African Cup of Nations, for many reasons.
For the long-awaited duel between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané
These two are, without a doubt, the two best African strikers of recent years.
If Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o pulled the plug ten years ago, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané have brilliantly taken over.
And display striking personal performances in the club, both at Liverpool, which they now hope to convert with their selection.
Sadio Mané knew something 🔮
(via @CAF_Online) pic.twitter.com/nNGO7r634k
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 3, 2022
Senegal's most decisive element, involved since 2017 in 11 African Cup goals (8 goals, 3 assists), more than any other player over the period, Mané (29) has already scored three times and provided two assists since the start of the tournament.
Where Salah (29), with two goals and an offering, is a little less "clutch" in the jersey of Egypt.
The two friends, who have each won the African Ballon d'Or in recent years, dream of winning their first-ever trophy with their country.
Salah was already not far from it, in 2017, but the Pharaohs had stumbled in the final against Cameroon.
The Senegalese of Mané fell in the final of the last edition against Algeria.
To see Senegal finally titled, or Egypt still crowned
This may seem surprising, for one of the strongholds of the African continent: in its history, Senegal has never raised a CAN.
A quirk that Aliou Cissé's players will try to brush aside this Sunday (or Monday if Egypt's appeal to play that day is successful).
In order to offer the list of people of the Lions of Teranga its first golden line, after two finals lost in 2002 and 2019.
Largely spared so far - an affordable group with Guinea as their main competitor, just like their knockout phase (Cape Verde in eighth, Equatorial Guinea in quarter, Burkina Faso in half) -, Senegal rubs shoulders this time with the one of the announced favourites.
Because with seven coronations, Egypt is the most successful country in Africa (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010), ahead of Cameroon (5 titles).
And that the men of Carlos Queiroz ousted on their way the great nations of the continent: Côte d'Ivoire in eighth, Morocco in quarter and especially Cameroon in half.
A course for a future champion?
To witness the apotheosis of the rise of Édouard Mendy
Who could have imagined Édouard Mendy, without a club seven years ago, and passed from Stade de Reims to a permanent role in the Chelsea cage in a few seasons after having exploded in Rennes, on the way to winning the two biggest possible trophies on two different continents?
Few people, probably.
But the Senegalese goalkeeper (29), crowned in the Champions League with the Blues a little over eight months ago, is touching his other dream, that of a continental title with his selection.
A feat that would validate a little more this meteoric rise with the appearance of a fairy tale.
Édouard Mendy dreams of a continental title with Senegal.
AFP/Charly Triballeau
Deprived of the first two meetings because of the Covid, Mendy returned to his post for the last group match.
And has only conceded two goals since, in the quarter and half.
“For two years, I have been waiting for the CAN.
It's a personal revenge for me, ”he confessed to the media before the final.
The number 1 goalkeeper of the Teranga Lions had to cut short his competition in 2019 following a fracture in the ring finger of the left hand, which occurred during the warm-up before the third meeting of the group stage.
To see talented staff at work, and several Parisians
There will be on the lawn of the Olembé stadium in Yaoundé Salah, Mané and other Mendy, but also many well-known figures in Europe.
From defenders Kalidou Koulibaly (Naples) and Bouna Sarr (Bayern Munich, ex-OM), to midfielders Pape Gueye (OM), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester, ex-Nice) via forwards Boulaye Dia (Villarreal, ex-Reims) and Mostapha Mohamed (Galatasaray, a time in the sights of Lyon, Bordeaux or Saint-Étienne), this final will bring together two groups steeped in talent.
Senegal will have a strong Parisian accent, since Paris Saint-Germain players Abdou Diallo and Idrissa Gueye will start the final this Sunday.
Guided by their coach Aliou Cissé (45), former PSG player for three seasons (1998-2001), much criticized before the tournament for not having been able to bring his first CAN to his country.
But on the way to becoming a national hero, if he were to finally snatch this dream final.