The match only had one meaning due to the Pharaohs’ strategy: defending in 3x5x2 and attacking in transitions. It didn’t work. Mohamed Salah was particularly absent and the team’s other star, Oumar Marmoush, also had few opportunities to make a dent – he only took a chance with a shot from outside the area at 90+4′, for a simple save by Edouard Mendy.
When facing such a low block, Senegal also had difficulty creating scoring opportunities and forced experienced goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy to make few interventions. Until Sadio Mané (78′) kicked the monotony and, from outside the area, put the Lions of Teranga in the CAN final, proof that Senegal is looking to win for the second time.
Egypt, with seven titles in its history, is once again on the way – it has not won the CAN since 2010. Senegal is now waiting for the winner of the meeting between Morocco and Nigeria (this Wednesday at 8pm) to find out who it will face in the game of all decisions.
It wasn’t all good news for the Senegalese: captain Kalidou Koulibaly, in addition to leaving the field injured, received a yellow card, which suspended him from the final.
