AFCON 2022: An African Final made on Merseyside

The third-place match is one that should have been scrapped a long time ago, but based on last night’s entertaining instalment, it needs to stay and hopefully the final can provide the same.

Sadio Mane takes on Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah in the 33rd Final of the African Cup of Nations.

Senegal and Egypt have grown and paced themselves into progression with every match. Senegal needed an injury-time penalty to get the better of Zimbabwe and Egypt lost their opening game to Nigeria. Many observers worried about the display of both sides as they looked a shadow of their explosive selves.

Both teams meet in the final for the first time. The Pharaohs are aiming for their eighth AFCON title whilst the Taranga Lions are seeking their first triumph. The Senegalese have been here on two previous occasions, losing both after a penalty shootout loss to Cameroon in 2002 and a lone goal loss to Algeria at the last AFCON.

Senegal have paid their dues on the African continent and two golden generations have failed to lift African football’s holy grail. Now is the time for Aliou Cisse to finally crown his excellent work as Senegal coach after all these years. A victory in the final will clear all doubts on the credentials of this current generation of Senegalese footballers.

At this AFCON, Egypt under Carlos Queiroz are an unusual kettle of fish. Egypt have moved through the gears in every phase of this competition, scoring only four goals so far.

Senegal, on the other hand, have found their goal-scoring boots in the knockout rounds after scoring only a goal to qualify top of their group. Eight goals in the knockout stages with three goals scored in back-to-back games has Senegal looking irresistible, but then this is Egypt.

Cisse’s side face their toughest test in the competition so far with all due respect to the teams they have faced at this AFCON. Egypt are the gold standard, the most successful team in AFCON history and any game against them is never easy. The Pharaohs have navigated extra-time throughout the knockout stages with penalty shootouts victories against Ivory Coast and hosts Cameroon.

Senegal’s explosive front three against Egypt’s resolute and organised defence seems to read just one thing, a cagey and tight final with probably a solitary goal to separate both sides. The time is now for Senegal to be crowned African Champions for the first time and all the hard work of the last few years deserves to be rewarded with an AFCON title.

Egypt are a dangerous side just like every defensively solid and compact team but Senegal have also shown defensive solidity, conceding only two goals so far. It is time for the AFCON trophy to find a new home and time to have a new name on the trophy.

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