On Sunday, February 6, Senegal joined the list of other 15 African Cup of Nations (AfCON) winners, after defeating Egypt 4-2 on penalties in Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé Cameroon.
It was a moment the West African country has waited so long for, having got so close many times. It was Liverpool player, Sadio Mane, who kicked the winning ball from the penalty spot past Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal (Gabaski.)
Senegalese coach Aliou Cisse finally got a poetic justice. The former Teranga Lions player was the captain of the 2002 squad who lost to Cameroon in the final following a penalty shootout. Cisse missed his penalty. The loss was compounded in 2019 when Senegal lost to Algeria in the final.
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Having lost in 2017 to Cameroun, Egypt was hoping to clinch its eighth title on Sunday, but was outplayed by Senegal who had 57% ball possession.
Mane, who was up against his Liverpool teammate, Mohammed Salah, missed a penalty that would have given Senegal the lead during regular time. It was a burden of guilt that could have hunted him for long had the penalty shootout ended in favor of Egypt.
“I won the Champions League and other trophies. But this is a special one for me. This is the most important,” Mane said.
Egypt was first to miss a penalty kick when Abdelmonem hit the post, giving Senegal a 2-1 lead. But the North Africans leveled up when Gabaski saved Bouna Saar’s kick. The game was left to be decided by Senegal when goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved Egypt’s fourth kick by Lasheen. Salah didn’t get to take his kick after Mane sealed it for Senegal.
Senegal has been recently consistent in AfCON tournaments more than any other team, keeping the hope of fans high that someday the Teranga Lions will bring the trophy home. Cisse, who has been managing the team since 2015 was applauded for building a resilient national side, making a case for other African countries to give indigenous coaches a chance.
Though it took about eight years filled with waits and disappointed hopes, the result of Senegal’s last two-hour match has inspired overwhelming jubilation that has eclipsed the long wait and disappointments. The Senegalese president, Macky Sall, has declared Monday a public holiday, highlighting a vital lesson in resilience: once you win, it would no longer matter how many times you failed.
