Senegal vs Egypt: Senegal will go home with the trophy

Incredible tournament so far, with different shocks and excitements, but here we have one of the matches of the year when Senegal go against the Egyptians at the Olembe Stadium. This tournament has proved to be one of the best and we have not been left in the lurch at all. After 51 matches among twenty-four countries, the Lions of Teranga and the Egyptian Pharoah will for the last time show us why this is the hardest Trophy to win on earth.

SENEGAL

Last five matches: DDWWW

What a team! What a performance! The team are on cloud nine after their performance against Burkina Faso. Personally, I'm tickled pink with the way they have turned up in this tournament.

The Lions of Teranga remain the best defensive side in this tournament and have shown in their last three matches that they can score goals as well.

Senegal qualified as the winner of Group B with five points and were paired with Cape Verde in the round of sixteen, the match didn't look like it was going to have goals in it even when Cape Verde were down to ten men.

It became more interesting when Vozinho was red-carded in the 57th minute and Senegal were all out to devour the already defeated Cape Verde, Sadio Mane powered in a wonderful shot to give Senegal the lead in the 63rd minute as Ahmadou Dieng doubled the lead just before the final whistle as the game ended in a 2-0 victory to hand them Semifinals ticket.

They were at the top of their game against Equatorial Guinea as they scored three goals in a match for the first time in this tournament. Famara Diedhiou gave the Lions of Teranga the lead in the first half as Jannick Buyla equalized for Equatorial Guinea just some minutes into the second half. Cheikhou Kouyate capitalized on Equatorial Guinea's defensive error as he gave his team the lead once again before a wonderful team goal from Ismaila Sarr to ensure they qualified for the next round.

The Semi-Finals was one of their best accomplishment, it looked as if it was going to be decided by penalties when Burkina Faso stood their ground in the first half but lost focus in the 70th minute when Abdou Diallo gave Senegal the lead, Ahmadou Dieng extended the lead in the 76th. In the 82nd minute, Ibrahim Blati Toure pulled one back for Burkina Faso but they gave up when Sadio Mane made it 3-1 to hand Senegal their final ticket.

Top rated in Africa and 20th in FIFA World ranking, the Lions of Teranga are unbeaten in their last nine matches, winning six and drawing three and they remain the only team with the best defensive record in this tournament.

Key player: Sadio Mane

EGYPT

Last five matches: WWDWD

Who would have thought they would get to this level after their show against Nigeria. They have been explicit all day long though, proving that they can win despite playing ugly and most times unconvincing. We can say experience really matters in their journey at the tournament.

The Egyptians finished second in Group D with six points, three points behind Nigeria and four points above Sudan but have shown they are up to the task as they beat Ivory Coast in the round of 16.

They launched their group game with a 1-0 loss to Nigeria l and bounced back against Guinea Bissau, Mohammed Salah made the difference with just a goal. It was a wrap as they beat Sudan to secure them the second spot. Won two and lost one.

They eliminated one of the toughest contestants in the competition when they held Ivory Coast to a deadlock as the match was decided by penalty and they won 5-4.

After a convincing display against one of the favourites in this tournament, they cruised to a 2-1 comeback win over Morocco. Safiane Boufal gave Morocco the lead in the first half from the penalty spot after Hakimi was brought down in the box. In the 53rd minute, Mohammed Salah gave Egypt their deserved equalizer as the match ended in a 1-1 draw at full time. The match was stretched to an extra time as Mohammed Trezeguet gave Egypt the lead to eliminate Morocco.

They fought tooth and nail against Cameron to proceed to this level after a goalless draw against the Host nation Cameroon. Their game plan really worked for them as they beat Cameroon 3-1 on penalties to emerge one of the two contestants for the AFCON Trophy.

Presently rated 45th according to FIFA, the Egyptians have scored just four goals in the tournament, but their defensive show of class has played a huge role in their journey so far as they have kept four clean sheets and conceded just two in six games.

Egypt are the most successful team in the history of this tournament and have won the AFCON title seven times.

Key player: Mohammed Salah

MATCH FACTS

Egypt will play in their ninth final (excluding final groups) at the Africa Cup of Nations, losing their most recent one in 2017 (2-1 against Cameroon) – including the 2021 final, no team has played in the tournament showpiece on more occasions than the Pharaohs (Ghana level on nine).

Senegal have won 11 Africa Cup of Nations matches across the last three tournaments (since 2017), more victories than any other team, while they’ve also kept the most clean sheets (12) in this time.

Sadio Mané has been directly involved in nine (six goals, three assists) of Senegal’s last 14 goals at the Africa Cup of Nations (64%), having either scored (2) or assisted (2) in each of his last three matches. The forward could register goal involvements in four consecutive games in the competition for the first time.

This will be the fifth encounter between Egypt and Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations and the first such meeting since 2006, with Egypt winning 2-1 in the semi-final on their way to lifting the trophy that year.

Since Mohamed Salah’s debut at the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2017, he’s been directly involved in 68 shots at goal for Egypt (41 shots, 27 chances created), only Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri (70 – 40 shots, 30 chances created) has been involved in more in this time.

In their four previous meetings at the Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt and Senegal have won two games each, with three of the four matches finishing 1-0 (Egypt’s win in 2000 and Senegal’s in 1986 and 2002).

Senegal are looking to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title, in their 16th appearance in the competition – no team have played in more AFCON tournaments without ever lifting the trophy.

Senegal are playing in their third Africa Cup of Nations final (runners-up in 2002 and 2019), while the Lions of Teranga are the first side to play in consecutive finals in the competition since opponents Egypt in 2010.

Senegal have scored nine goals from 81 attempts at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations - only Cameroon (12.1%, 11/91) have a better shot conversion rate than the Lions of Teranga at this year’s tournament. Meanwhile, Egypt’s rate of just 5.3% (4/76) is the lowest among teams to progress to the knock-out rounds.

Egypt have progressed via extra time (and/or penalties) in their last three matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, only one team have played in four consecutive knock-out matches, with all going to extra time in the competition’s history – Tunisia between 2006 and 2015 (lost all four in quarter-finals, three in extra time and won on penalties).

EXPERT BETTING TIPS

Impressed with what Egypt have achieved so far and no disrespect to them, Senegal will never let this slip out of their hands as they pose more threat in all departments than the Egyptians. I'm fully rooting for Senegal for 2.20.

Egypt love defending and seek opportunities to capitalise on the counter, I'm not sure if that will work against this determined Senegal side, bet on Senegal and over 1.5 for 3.36.

Senegal to lift the trophy for 1.56.

Good luck to Mane and Salah!

Good luck to everyone and happy winnings!