AFCON 2021: THE FINAL – Senegal v Egypt Preview: First title or record extension?
With 51 matches played amongst 24 nations so far, the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations comes to an end in grand style as Senegal and Egypt go head to head for the ultimate prize at Olembe’s Paul Biya Stadium on today.
Beaten in two previous finals, the Lions of Teranga will look to clinch their first-ever title against an Egypt side who will be seeking to conquer the continent for a record-extending eighth time, and this game promises to be a nerve-racking showdown as we get to see two of Liverpool’s leading forwards in Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah lock horns for continental glory.
On the back of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Algeria in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final, Senegal came into this year’s edition as one of the continent’s biggest sides yet to lift the title despite multiple final appearances.
The Lions of Teranga enjoyed a smooth qualification journey where they went unbeaten in Group I, claiming four wins and two draws from six games to finish top of the table with a healthy five-point lead over runners-up Guinea-Bissau.
However, Senegal had to grind out a hard-earned 1-0 victory over a resilient Zimbabwe side in their opening game on January 10, when Mane opened his account with a 97th-minute penalty.
Despite failing to win their final two group games, where they were held to consecutive goalless draws by Guinea and Malawi, Aliou Cisse’s men finished top of Group B and secured a place in the knockout stages.
After their somewhat unconvincing group-stage run, Senegal found their magic touch in the round of 16 as they put two past Cape Verde on January 25 courtesy of second-half goals from Mane and Ahmadou Bamba Dieng.
Cisse’s side continued their sensational run in the quarter-finals where they claimed a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea five days later at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium to set up a last-four clash with Burkina Faso on January 2.
With confidence and belief high in the Senegalese camp, Abdou Diallo and Dieng scored in a six-minute spell as they placed one foot firmly in the final, and after Ibrahim Blati Toure pulled one back in the 82nd minute, Mane was at it again as he restored his side’s two-goal advantage five minutes later.
Senegal are currently in superb form, going unbeaten in 12 consecutive games — with nine wins and three draws in that time — stretching back to a COSAFA Cup defeat at the hands of South Africa back last July.
This fine run of results has been owing to a mix of attacking brilliance and defensive sturdiness as they have scored 24 goals since that defeat while conceding just six in that time.
Senegal will now look to end their losing streak in the final with their first defeat coming in 2002 when they lost on penalties to Cameroon and the most recent being a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Algeria in Egypt three years ago.
Egypt, on the other hand, are the most decorated side in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, conquering the continent on seven different occasions, with their last title triumph coming back in 2010, when they saw off Ghana 1-0.
Like Senegal, the Pharaohs went unbeaten in the qualifiers, claiming 12 points from six games to finish at the summit of Group G and secure smooth entry into the tournament proper.
However, Carlos Queiroz’s side were sent crashing back down to earth in their opening game on January 11, when they fell to a narrow 1-0 loss at the hands of West African giants Nigeria courtesy of Kelechi Iheanacho’s 30th-minute strike.
Egypt got their campaign up and running four days later, when they secured a hard-earned 1-0 victory over a dogged Guinea-Bissau side before wrapping things up in the group stages with another 1-0 win over Sudan on January 19.
Finishing as runners-up in Group D with six points from nine available, the North Africans progressed to the last 16 where they saw off tournament favourites Ivory Coast on penalties following a goalless 120 minutes.
Egypt then turned in a performance of the highest quality in the semi-finals where they locked horns with regional rivals Morocco on January 30, as Salah scored in the 53rd minute to cancel out Sofiane Boufal’s seventh-minute penalty and force extra time, where Trezeguet came up clutch with a 100th-minute winner.
The Pharaohs then stunned tournament hosts Cameroon last time out when they claimed a 3-1 victory on penalties to secure a place in the final following a goalless 120 minutes at the Paul Biya Stadium.
While Egypt have struggled to get going in attack, they owe their journey to the finals to the solid job done at the opposite end of the pitch, where they have kept four clean sheets and conceded just twice so far at the tournament.
While the six-time African champions will be seeking to conquer the continent again, next up is an in-form opposing side who they have struggled against in recent meetings between the teams, losing each of their last two encounters and three of the last five since 2002.
Team News
Cisse has made just a few changes to his preferred lineup during the course of the tournament and we expect the 45-year-old to name a familiar stating XI in Sunday’s crunch tie.
In attack, Mane leads his side in goals and assists at the tournament with three and two respectively and we expect to see the 29-year-old spearhead the attack once more alongside Diedhiou and Villarreal forward Boulaye Dia.
Watford forward Sarr, who boasts one goal and one assist in just 57 minutes of action at the tournament, is yet to start a game at the so far but could serve as another excellent attacking option on the bench.
At the centre of the park, the trio of Ferland Mendy, Idrissa Gueye and Crystal Palace’s Kayoute have been rock solid and should be tasked with winning the midfield battle on Sunday.
Further behind, Senegal have been simply outstanding, keeping four clean sheets and conceding just twice in six games and we expect to see an unchanged back four of Bouna Sarr, Kalidou Koulibaly, Diallo and Saliou Ciss, who have started each of the three games in the knockout stages, shielding the reliable Edouard Mendy in goal.
Meanwhile, Egypt remain without the services of Al Ahly midfielder Akram Tawfik, whose tournament came to an abrupt end when he sustained a severe injury just 11 minutes into the opening game against Nigeria on January 11.
Former West Bromwich Albion man Ahmed Hegazi is also major doubt for the Pharaohs after missing the game against Cameroon last time out through an injury he picked up against Morocco last Sunday.
Zamalek defender Mahmoud Hamdi, who took Hegazi’s place in XI against the Atlas Lions, proved to be an excellent replacement, and the 26-year-old could be handed his fourth starting appearance at the tournament.
Like his Liverpool counterpart Mane, Salah leads Egypt in goal involvements so far, scoring three goals and registering one assist and the 29-year-old will certainly cause the Senegalese a worry or two.
After coming off injured in the 96th minute in the game against Morocco, Gabaski shook off his injury as he turned in a performance of the highest quality against the Indomitable Lions last time out and the veteran goalkeeper should start between the sticks once more.
Senegal possible starting lineup:
E Mendy; Sarr, Koulibaly, A Diallo, Ciss; Kouyate, N Mendy, I Gueye; Mane, Dieng, Dia
Egypt possible starting lineup:
Sobhy; Kamal, Trezeguet, Hamdi, Fatouh; Ashraf, El-Sulya, Elneny; Mohamed, Marmoush, Salah
What they said
Aliou Cissé (Coach, Senegal)
“We prepared well for our final with the players who are determined and confident to put in a good show. We will approach this final with determination against a great Egyptian team. We know our opponent well; they have their own philosophy of play with experienced players on the continental level. We are on the way to our objective of winning the title this Sunday evening. We must focus on the final, play it well and thus succeed in our match. We will have to take advantage of the moment. We lost two finals in the past, but this time we will approach the match with more determination”.
Khalidou Coulibaly (Captain, Senegal)
“After missing the final in 2019, I will be there tomorrow to write the history of Senegalese football. The most important thing for me is to offer Senegal and the Senegalese people the trophy. We must realize our dream, that of to win the final crowning. We are keen to play well, to perform well to win this final. It will certainly be the most important match of my career and I will play it with all the determination and ardor necessary to win the tournament”.
Wael Gomaa (Team Manager, Egypt)
“It’s true that we are tired after several matches played in extra time and the various trips since the start of the tournament, but the players will outdo themselves in the final to win the title. The main thing for us is to win the trophy and offer it to all the Egyptian people who have been supporting us for several months. I would like to thank the medical staff who are doing a titanic job in order to prepare all the players after each match”.
Mohamed Salah (Captain, Egypt)
“After a lost final in 2017 against Cameroon, we will play our all-out tomorrow against Senegal to grab an eighth star. We are determined to seek the crown. the players are physically and mentally ready. We are here to play the title and that means a lot to us. We want to offer a title to all Egyptian citizens.”
Prediction
Senegal 2-1 Egypt
