Kelvin Madzongwe’s handball in the penalty box handed Senegal the ticket that took them to the final. {Senegal 1-0 Zimbabwe}
If we are to take away Sadio Mane’s 90+7 minute goal from the penalty spot against Zimbabwe, Senegal would’ve finished the group stage with 3 points and a likely elimination.
Senegal became continental champions for the first time in their history. (Their first major title).
Egypt remains the most successful nation in the tournament’s history but their 12-year title drought will extend.
6 February 2022
SENEGAL 0-0 EGYPT {4-2 pko}
If the Egyptians decide to use fatigue as an excuse for this defeat, some of us will understand. Every game they played after the group stage went into 30+ minute extra time.
The winners of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations were group winners who were unbeaten for the entirety of the tournament. That wouldn’t have been the case if Egypt had gone on to win.
ENOUGH WITH THE SILVER MEDALS, ALIOU CISSÉ WILL GET HIS HAND ON THE GOLD MEDAL WITH SENEGAL.
Aliou Cissé (Senegal’s manager) has been part of all three of Senegal’s final appearances in the Africa Cup of Nations. Cissé was a player in 2002 when Senegal lost the final in a penalty kickoff against Cameroon, and he was there as the manager when they lost to Algeria (in Egypt) in 2019.
Senegal’s journey to the final
GROUP STAGE
Jan 10: Senegal 1-0 Zimbabwe
Jan 14: Senegal 0-0 Guinea
Jan 18: Malawi 0-0 Senegal
RD 16| Jan 25: Senegal 2-0 Cape Verde
QF| Jan 30: Senegal 3-1 Equatorial Guinea
SF| Feb. 2: Burkina Faso 1-3 Senegal
Egypt’s journey to the final
GROUP STAGE
Jan 11: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Jan 15: Guinea Bissau 0-1 Egypt
Jan 19: Egypt 1-0 Sudan
RD16| Jan 26: Ivory Coast 0-0 Egypt (4-5 after pko).
QF| Jan 30: Egypt 2-1 Morocco (aet)
SF| Feb 3: Cameroon 0-0 Egypt (1-3 after pko).
EGYPT AND SENEGAL AND THE 2022 WCQ
Egypt and Senegal will now have to fight for the one ticket that will book their place in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.
They will play a two-legged playoff in March for that ticket.
BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
5 February 2022
BURKINA FASO 3-3 CAMEROON
Cameroon came from 3 goals down to force a penalty kickoff that allowed them to exit the tournament as the bronze medalist from a 5-3 win in PKO.
Vincent Abubakar took his goal tally for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to 8 goals.
Aboubakar’s late goals 85th and 87th saved the host nation from further disappointment.
