By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
THE TERANGA Lions of Senegal on Wednesday in the last African Cup of Nations (AFCON) match in Tangier, Morocco, turned the city of Tangier to the Red Sea for Pharaohs of Egypt with a lone goal victory stopping a dream of Egypt lifting the trophy a record eight times and making it the second appearance in the grand finale.
Senegalese star player, Sadio Mane ensured the stoppage of Egypt in the 78th minute when he powerfully riffled home a thorough pass from the penalty arc that beat versatile Egyptian Goalkeeper El Shenawy hands down grappling on the turf.
The Sadio Mane act put paid to the ambition of his long-time team mate at Liverpool, Mohammed Salah, to win the AFCON title.
He becomes like Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast who never won the AFCON title after winning several titles in Europe.
Funny enough Ivory Coast won AFCON in 2023 after Drogba retired and Salah’s says this is his last match for AFCON.
Egypt did not come into the match at all probably expecting to go into penalty kicks as the country had only a shot on target from 4 shots at goal whereas Senegal had 11 shots at goal and 4 on target; Senegal stringed 534-304 passes with 65-35% possession showing dominance of the game especially when Senegal had 6-1 corner kick with 10-11 foul calls resulting in 2-1 yellow cards.
It is inexplicable the tactics of the Egyptian Coach who brought in his best strikers to play upfront with 13 minutes of regular time to play.
That was the time Egypt got the only shot on target and only corner kick.
The news is not particularly good for Senegal as two of her dependable players, Kalidou Koulabaly got a yellow in the 47th minute for tripping an opponent and that’s bye to AFCON 25 same for Habib Diarra who also begged yellow in the 71st minute for ungentlemanly conduct.
Senegal waits to meet the winner of the second semifinal on Sunday in Rabat while Egypt will struggle for the Bronze against the loser of that match.
To reach the semifinal stage the Teranga Lions of Senegal scored 11 goals conceding 2 with 3 clean slates beating Botswana 3-0; played 1-1 draw with DR Congo; drub Benin Republic 3-0 all at the group stages before marching forward to trounce Sudan 3-1 at the round of 16 games and then nipped Mali 1-0 in the quarterfinal
Pharaohs of Egypt scored 9 goals conceding 4 goals with 2 clean slates defeating Zimbabwe 2-1; piped South Africa by a lone goal and played goalless with Angola at the group stages before halting the Cheetahs of Benin 3-1 at the round of 16 games and narrowly edged out Ivory Coast 3-2 at the quarterfinal.
Both teams met 7 times with each country winning three games and posting a drawn game that had total 14 goals scored and each scored 7 goals.
They met at AFCON four times where Senegal won twice and Egypt won once with a draw. Egypt has the highest goals scored in an international LG friendly encounter played on 29th December 2005 that ended Egypt 4 Senegal 2.
Egypt ranked 35 in the world appearing for the 27th time at the mundial are the most decorated national team on the continent winning AFCON titles seven times in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
The Teranga Lions of Senegal ranked 19 is in their 18th appearances and got their only title at Cameroon 2021. Senegal finished 4th position twice in 1965 and 2006.
Second semifinal is Morocco versus Nigeria at Abdellah- Rabat in Morocco at 9pm tonight.
The 3rd place match between Egypt and the loser of the Nigeria vs Morocco match is scheduled for Saturday 17th January at 5,00pm in Casablanca and the grand finale between Senegal and the winner of the Nigeria vs Morocco duel will be on Sunday 18th January at 8.00pm in Rabat.
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