Salah and Mane will confront each other in an encounter that will feature seven-time AFCON champions, Egypt, and the highest-ranked African side, Senegal
By Kehinde Okeowo
Two of football’s most prized assets, Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane will be involved in a showdown on Sunday at the Olembe Stadium in Cameroon as two of the most successful teams in the African Cup of Nations meet in the final.
Egypt goalkeeper Gabaski pulled off two superb saves during the penalty shootout, as Egypt edged past hosts Cameroon after a goalless draw during regulation time.
Cameroon were the more enterprising of the two sides, but they were unlucky not to have taken the lead after they were denied twice by the woodwork.
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Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui’s looping header hit the frame of the bar, while Samuel Gouet’s thunderous long-range strike flicked the woodwork.
Mohammed Salah was well marshalled during the encounter, as the Egypt star man could only muster a few scoring opportunities during the encounter.
However, he was saved from the ordeal of having to step up for the shootout as Cameroon missed three of their efforts, with goalkeeper Gabaski saving two from Harold Moukoudi and James Lea Siliki, while Clinton N’Jie put his effort wide.
Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz was sent off by the referee during the encounter while his assistant Wael Gomaa was also cautioned too.
They will now both be missing from the Pharaohs’ bench when they meet Senegal in the final on Sunday.
The Hosts, Cameroon, will face Burkina Faso in the third/fourth-place play-off, which has been brought forward a day to Saturday.
Meanwhile, while Senegal will be hoping to lift the AFCON trophy for the first time in their history, Egypt will become eight-time champions of the tournament if they win.