Senegal 0-0 Egypt: Senegal win on penalties | summary score, goals, highlights, AFCON 2021 final

Commiserations to Egypt with the Pharaohs and Teranga Lions set to meet again at the end of March in the CAF World Cup qualifiers. 

Mané the hero!

The Liverpool striker put the disappointment of his early penalty miss behind him to step up and slot home the final spot kick.

Senegal winning 4-2 on penalty kicks after the game was 0-0 after 120 minutes.....

For the first time ever, the Teranga Lions are the champions of Africa.

Senegal win AFCON 2021 !!!!!!!!!!!

The Liverpool man takes his time ....places the ball and scores !!!!! Senegal are AFCON 2021 champions !

Senegal can win now if Mané scores.....

Pressure now falls on Mohanad Lasheen as he has his kick saved....(3-2) Advantage Senegal

Taker three for Senegal is Bouna Sarr and he keeper saves....

Taker number 2 for Egypt is Mohamed Abdel Monem and the defender hits the post.... (1-2) advantage Senegal

Pressure on Egypt now..... First up for the Pharaohs is Zizo ande he scores (1-1)

Last minute instructions from the ref (who has been excellent) ... First up it's going to be Senegal and Koulibaly.... The Napoli man steps up and ..... scores

Salah speaks to his side as the Senegal side also huddle to issue last minute words of inspiration to the takers and goalkeeper.

That's the whistle. Penalty kicks it is ....

Final minute of the 120'. The AFCON 2021 winner will be decided on penalty kicks.

Less than 2 minutes remain. Is there late, late drama on the cards here in Yaounde?

Mendy keeps Senegal's dreams tipping well as Egypt look to seal it at the death. Egypt's turn now to admisiter some concerted pressure.

Senegal try from long range and once again Gabaski is on hand to save well.

We really could be here all night and we would still have Senegal trying to break Egypt down with no avail.

Historically Egypt have a better record when it comes to penalty shoot outs at AFCON.

Less than ten remain...Senegal attack but there is simply no way past the team in red.

Both Fattoh and Dieg collide and both players will need medical attention....

Egypt win a dangerous free as Ciss is adjudged to have caught he man....Tension palpable now as the clock ticks down.

Fans of both sides do their bit now to rally their respective teams....

The final 15 minutes of open play at AFCON 2021 are underway... Senegal go straight on the attack.

The whistle sounds... 15 minutes remain here in Yaounde.

Into the final minute of extra-time we go .... Mané goes to ground and looks for a free but the ref waves play on....

Senegal press again.... The first half of extra time has taken the same pattern as the full 90 minutes...Senegal dominating and creating with Egypt sitting deep and looking to counter.

It really has been a heroic performance from the Zamalek keeper.

Gabaski again saves Egypt leaping to tip away a header that seemed destined to end up in  the corner of the net.

Change for Egypt.....Fathi comes off and Lasheen is his replacement

But.... there is something commendable in Egypt's strict game-plan and it's one they perform to perfection. A tough, tough team to break down.

For all the neutrals watching, am sure that there can be no debate in sensing that Senegal (on the balance of desire and hunger) deserve to win the game....

So, can we get a winner in a further half an hour of play as once Gabaski saves Egypt.

The whistle sounds and it's going to be a further period of extra time to decide the winner of the 2021 AFCON.

Egypt set for a third extra-time period in this 2021 AFCON!

Last minute of the contest... We're going to have 3 minutes of added time.

Is there to be late drama here in Yaounde? Senegal still the side asking all the questions and the only team actively looking to score. Mané carded for Senegal too for a late challenge ....

Two minurtes of normal time remain

The ball falls to Dieng and he tries a spectacular volley but drills the ball high and wide.

Tiredness becoming a factor now. Egypt did play a day later than Senegal in the semi-finals and were subjected to a period of extra-time too.

Egypt substitute keeper Sobhy is warming up on the sideline

Gamesmanship ? Play-acting ? Game-management ?

We are reaching the point of the game where Egypt do all in their powers to ensure that there is as little flow in the game as possible....

Can Senegal make use of this dead-ball ? Nope....Ciss blasts over.... as Gabaski seems to be in trouble....

Another dangerous free for Senegal right on the edge of the Egypt box. Mané clipped by Fathi.

Bamba Dieng (in) - Famara Diédhiou (out) & Boulaye Dia (in) - Ismaïla Sarr( out) (Senegal)

Double change coming up from coach Cisse for Senegal:

Egypt almost find the target as the ball zips inches wide from a header from Hamdi. Into the final 15' we go....

Mane clips Emam Ashour and is lucky to avoid a caution.

More defending from Egypt as Senegal hurl balls into the box. Less than 20' left on the clock.

A rare chance for Egypt as Hamdy Fathy heads over from a freekick.

Change for Senegal as Pape Gueye comes on for Crystal Palace man Cheikhou Kouyaté

It's not pretty to watch, but Egypt under Carlos Queiroz are a very, very difficult side to break down.

It was at this stage of the Cameroon-Egypt semi-final where one could sense that extra time and penalty kicks were on the cards last Thursday.... A sense of deja vu is descending once again over the Olembe Stadium with it difficult to see any side making a breakthrough tonight.

Another wasted free from Senegal as they look to go short but once again the men in red were alert to the danger.

Triple switch for Egypt:

Trézéguet (in) - Amr El Soleya (out)

Zizo (in) - Omar Marmoush (out)

Marwan Hamdy (in) - Mostafa Mohamed (out)

Approaching the hour mark now and very much a game of status quo.... Senegal press, Egypt defend....

Changes a-foot for Egypt as once again Gabaski is the hero snuffing out another dangerous cross from Senegal.

It's a footballing monologue now as Senegal press and create all the running. Egypt as we know are a very tough nut to crack defensively.

Abdou Diallo carded as he clips Salah.

Fantastic intervention from Gabaski as Senegal once again fire the ball into the box from the flank. The Zamalek man gathers at the second time of asking.

Famara Diédhiou has been underwhelming for Senegal tonight, the Alanyaspor man offering little for the Teranga Lions.

Senegal, once again with the positive play. The ball falls to Mendy in the box but the Leicester man drives the ball at the Egypt keeper.

Free for Senegal and danger for Gabaski as he organises his wall. Gueye and Sarr over the ball and it's the PSG man who strikes but blazes the ball well over.

Not sure about the 'thrilling' part in that CAF tweet.... tense, edgy yes but thrilling not sure....

No changes for either team it appears at the interval.

Egypt start the action....

The teams take to the pitch for the second half.... The game could really do with a Senegal goal to force Egypt come out and play (as we know they can do...we saw it in the second half vs Morocco)

The whistle sounds in Yaounde and the team's head to the dressing room.

Inches wide for Senagal as Cheikhou Kouyaté drives a volley inches wide. Fine strike from the Crystal Palace man.

We'll have two minutes of added time.

Another card from the ref and this time it's Senegal captain Koulibaly who is into the book for leading with an elbow.

Best chance for Egypt as Salah strikes and forces a superb save from Mendy who tips over.

Senegal break again and once again, the move crumbles after a poor second ball after a 1-2 on the edge of the Egypt box.

Into the final five minutes of the first-half and Egypt's game plan going very much as scripted. Senegal doing all the running and Egypt sitting deep and looking strike on the counter.

Good chance from Senegal as a bullet header from Famara Diédhiou is directed straight into the arms of Gabaski.

The tempo of the game slowing down considerably now after a bright opening phase.

Fathi carded for a poor challenge on Mane

Great work from Senegal as they move the ball expertly from back to front but the move is under pinned as Sarr drives the final ball high and wide.

A tense final with the early penalty miss very much the key talking point of the half.

Salah now finding a little more space in the Senegal but cuts a lone figure. A few half chances for Senegal but nothing of any major concern for either goalkeeper to worry about.

Fine work from Salah as the Liverpool man beats two men in green but fires straight at Mendy.

Senegal look for an outlet by taking the ball to the by-line and driving into the box again. Egypt are alert to the danger and clear.

Danger as Senegal almost find the target....Sarr drills the ball across the mouth of the goal and Mané inches away from making contact with the ball. Solid play from Senegal who are certainly the side with the initiative.

A heated exchange takes place between Bouna Sarr and the referee. The Bayern man will need to watch his step as the South African match official is not one to mess with.

We've yet to see any magic from either Salah or Mané as we approach the 20 min. mark.

Egypt defender Mohamed Abdel Monem will have to watch his step now as Nampalys Mendy is carded for a lunge on Marmoush

The pattern of the game setting up according to plan with Senegal enjoying possession and Egypt sitting deep and soaking up the pressure and will look to strike.

First involvement for Mendy tonight as the Chelsea man grabs a Salah free.

Sarr shoots but the ball is straight at Gabaski

Gabaski as he's known on his shirt is fast becoming a new hero for Pharaohs fans !

Poor kick from the Liverpool striker belting the ball straight at the keeper.

Mané vs Mohamed Abou Gabal and the keeper saves...what a stop from the Zamalek man !!!!!

Mane set to take the spot kick....

The South African ref. points to the spot... Mohamed Abdel Monem scythes down Senegal No. 2 Ciss as he broke into the box....Card for the Egypt defender too and Ciss in trouble. Major drama here in the first three minutes.

Mohamed Abou Gabal back in goal for Egypt tonight. The Zamalek stopper was subbed in the previous two games with a groin issue.

Egypt boss Cartlos Queiroz spotted sitting high in the Olembe stadium grandstand

A minute's silence pre-game to remember the dead from the Olembe Stadium disaster some two weeks ago and we're now underway. Senegal start the action.

Pre-match photos out of the way with a high turn out of photo journalists.... let's have a reminder of tonight's teams....

The teams take to the pitch at Yaounde... Nervous looks on the players of both teams as they await, possibly the biggest game of their careers... The 33rd AFCON as the national anthems of both Senegal and Egypt are aired.

AFCON final: referee

Tonight's AFCON final will be overseen by South Africa's Victor Gomes.

Senegal players warm-up at the Olembe Stadium as kick-off looms

Senegal-Egypt: Recent Past Meetings

Nov 2014 Senegal beat Egypt 1-0 in Cairo in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

Sept 2014 Senegal beat Egypt 2-0 in Dakar in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

Feb 2006 Egypt beat Senegal 2-1 in Cairo in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final

Oct 2003 Egypt beat Senegal 1-0 in Cairo in a friendly international

Jan 2002 Senegal beat Egypt 1-0 in Bamako in the group phase of the Africa Cup of Nations finals

It's fair to say that his Egypt side under Carlos Queiroz are far from 'easy on the eye;'. There have been brief spells along their journey to the final (the start of the second half vs Morocco) when they seem to have an additional gear to slip into, but far too often it's been defensively minded tactics that have seen them advance to the final with two penalty shoot-outs along the way.

Senegal have grown into the competition as the tournament has evolved. The Teranga Lions saw their group stage performances hindered with covid cases and just scored once in the three group games and that was a late penalty in the opening game against Zimbabwe. Senegal start tonight's final as slight favourites.

The poor pitch at the Olembe Stadium is in bad shape and was cutting up considerably during Thursday's semi-final. Ahead of tonight's game, it sees hundreds of dancers and machinery as CAF celebrate the AFCON closing ceremony.

Senegal will be in their green shirts this evening for the final with Egypt in their iconic red shirts/white shorts combo.

Team news: Egypt XI

Team news: Senegal XI

Senegal

Best performance: Runners-up 2002, 2019

Previous appearances in finals: (15) 1965, 1968, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019

FIFA world ranking Dec 2021: 20

Road to the final

10 Jan (Bafoussam) beat Zimbabwe 1-0 (Sadio Mane pen)

14 Jan (Bafoussam) drew 0-0 with Guinea

18 Jan (Bafoussam) drew 0-0 with Malawi

Last 16

25 Jan (Bafoussam) beat Cape Verde Islands 2-0 (Mane, Bamba Dieng)

Quarter-final

30 Jan (Yaounde) beat Equatoria Guinea 3-1 (Famara Diedhiou, Cheikhou Kouyate, Ismaila Sarr)

Semi-final

2 Feb (Yaounde) beat Burkina Faso 3-1 (Abdou Diallo, B Dieng, Mane)

EGYPT

Best performance: Winners 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010

Previous appearances in finals: (24) 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019

FIFA world ranking Dec 2021: 45

Road to the final

11 Jan (Garoua) lost to Nigeria 0-1

15 Jan (Garoua) beat Guinea Bissau 1-0 (Mohamed Salah)

19 Jan (Yaounde) beat Sudan 1-0 (Mohamed Abdelmonem)

Last 16

26 Jan (Douala) beat Ivory Coast 5-4 on penalties after 0-0 draw

Quarter-final

30 Jan (Yaounde) at Koroco 2-1 after extra time (Salah, Mahmoud Trezeguet)

Semi-final

3 Feb (Yaounde) beat Cameroon 3-1 on penalties after 0-0 draw

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Senegal vs Egypt: Liverpool teammates Mane and Salah go for AFCON glory

Tonight's game is also a prelude to the CAF World Cup qualifiers as both sides will play-off at the end of March for a place at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Queiroz to miss potential crowning moment of career after red card

Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz has had a long and distinguished career but he will be missing from the dugout for potentially the crowning moment of his quarter-century of coaching around the world.

A red card in the semi-final win for Egypt over hosts Cameroon means a two-match ban for the 68-year-old coach and banishment to the stands for tonight's Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal in Yaounde, where he will have to run matters remotely.

Queiroz, born in Mozambique when it was still a Portuguese colony, has been in charge of the Egyptian side only since September but made a quick mark as the team overcame a slow start to the tournament in Cameroon to reach the final.

They eliminated Cameroon on post-match penalties at the end of a tough physical tussle on Thursday but Queiroz was red-carded for persistent bickering from the touchline, looking to be in an agitated state from the start of the game.

He said afterwards that the referee, Bakary Gassama, had intimidated his side from even before the start of the match but the Gambian official has since been commended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for his handling of the game.

"CAF does not respect Egypt, from the schedules to the quality of the pitches -- we had the worst pitches. We are Egypt," Queiroz said after the game.

Cisse hopes for third time lucky at Cup of Nations final

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse will be looking to put two disappointing Africa Cup of Nations finals behind him and win at the third attempt when he leads his team tonight's final against Egypt in Yaounde.

The 45-year-old captained Senegal in the 2002 final but squandered the vital kick in the penalty shootout as they lost to Cameroon, months before going on to reach the World Cup quarter-finals in Japan and South Korea.

Cisse was back in 2019, this time as coach, as his side lost 1-0 to Algeria in the final in Cairo.

Those were the only previous times Senegal have reached the deciding match, despite a first appearance at the Cup of Nations finals in 1965.

Cisse is among the longest-serving national team coaches in African football, having taken over in 2015, and he has led to the Cup of Nations and the last World Cup in Russia.

History is in the making tonight with Aliou Cissé's Senegal aiming to win their first ever AFCON title. Egypt too have their eyes on extending their incredible record with sights set on an eighth triumph.

The match at the Olembe Stadium in the Cameroon capital gets underway at 20:00 CET/14:00 ET.

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of the 2021 AFCON final as Senegal face Egypt in Yaoundé.