Egypt will face Senegal in the Final on Sunday, with Mohamed Salah coming up against Sadio Mane after Cameroon crumbled in a penalty shoot-out after failing to convert three of their four spot-kicks as Egypt reached the AFCON final.

The Pharaohs keeper Mohamed Abou Gabal was the hero as Egypt overcame the hosts’ nation Cameroon to reach this year’s Africa Cup of Nations final with a 3-1 success on penalties.

Gabal’s two stellar penalty shootout saves from Egypt proved to be pivotal.

After 120 minutes of scoreless action, goalkeeper Abou Gabal saved spot-kicks from Harold Moukoudi and James Lea Siliki before Clinton N’Jie completely missed the target. 

Egypt will take on Senegal in the showpiece on Sunday, though Carlos Queiroz will not be in the dugout after being sent off for two displays of dissent towards the end of normal time. 

In a low-tempo game littered with mistakes, the best chance of the first half came when Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui saw his header hit the post in the 18th minute. 

Mohamed Salah was presented with a glorious chance to open the scoring in the second half by a short back pass from Martin Hongla but was unable to round Andre Onana after the goalkeeper hared out of his box to intervene. 

Samuel Oum Gouet went close to scoring a goal of the tournament contender when his rasping 35-yard drive clipped the outside of the post, and Queiroz was sent off before the start of extra time. 

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The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has confirmed that the third and fourth place final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon has been rescheduled – to the 5th of February. 

The federation announced the changes following consultation between its organising committee and the Cameroonian government. The change only affected the date and not the venue.

“The Caf Africa Cup of Nations Organising Committee, after discussions with the government of Cameroon and the Local Organising Committee [LOC], decided to move the Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 third and fourth place originally scheduled for Sunday 06 February 2022 to Saturday, 05 February 2022,” Caf announced.

“The match, to be played at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, will kick off at 20h00.”

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso now awaits a loser between Egypt and Cameroon to contest third place in the ongoing AFCON games.

Senegal had on Wednesday night reached this year’s AFCON final after beating Burkina Faso to 3-1.

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Sadio Mane was brilliant as he scored the winner to help Senegal make this year’s final of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon after their 3-1 over Burkina-Faso on Wednesday at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.

Defender Abdou Diallo scored the first goal for the party for the 2019 losing finalists when he calmly slotted in from close range on 71 minutes.

Aliou Cisse’s side had two penalties awarded in the first half, only for the Ethiopian referee to change his mind both times following a VAR review. However, they went ahead just after the midway point in the second period when Paris Saint-Germain defender Diallo popped up in the box to produce a striker’s finish.

The first semi-finals was a great showdown as the West African derby lived up to expectations.

The second arrived on 76 minutes as Mane provided a superb assist for Gueye, also of PSG, to score, and Mane completed the win late on after Blati Toure had pulled a goal back. 

Africa’s top-ranked national team, Senegal, will find out their opponents in Sunday’s final on Thursday when hosts Cameroon take on Egypt in the second semi.

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Egypt has progressed to the African Cup of Nations semifinals after edging Morocco 2-1 to set a date with host Cameroon in search of a record 8th AFCON title.

Mohamed Salah scored and made an assist as Egypt defeated their North African counterparts Morocco 2-1 in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé on Sunday. 

Sofiane Boufal scored the opener for Morrocco from the spot inside the opening seven minutes before Liverpool’s star man Mohamed Salah drew parity in the 53rd minute.

The Pharaoh of Egypt took the lead through Aston Villa’s attacker Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan during extra time. 

Morocco’s failure to take few of their chances suffered in the 10th minute of extra time as Salah darting past Aguerd down the right flank and laying on a perfect cross for Trezeguet to dispatch a simple finish with Bounou stricken.

Egypt will now face hosts in Cameroon in the last four on Thursday.

Meanwhile, hosts Cameroon overcome debutant the Gambia 2-0 in a quarter-final match played at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Saturday.

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Africa Cup of Nations last 16, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo – Morocco 2 (En-Nesyri 45’, Hakimi 70’) Malawi 1 (Mhango 7’)

A sensational free-kick from Achraf Hakimi lifted Morocco to a 2-1 win over Malawi and into the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

Malawi’s Gabadinho Mhango gave his nation a shock lead in the first half with arguably the goal of the tournament from 35-yards out, but a thumping header from Youssef El Nesyri and Hakimi’s set-piece booked Morocco’s place in the last eight.

Vahid Halilhodzic’s side, considered one of the favourites to win the tournament, will play Ivory Coast or Egypt in the next round.

Morocco began the game firmly on the front foot and were piling numbers forward from the first whistle, but Mhango stunned the Atlas Lions with a goal of the year contender in the seventh minute.

The 29-year-old Orlando Pirates striker picked the ball up near the halfway line before he fired a vicious curling strike beyond the helpless Yassine Bounou in goal for his third goal of the tournament.

Mhango came close to scoring again in the 22nd minute as he broke behind the Morocco defence, but he dragged his low strike just wide.

After Watford midfielder Imran Louza hit the bar 10 minutes later, Malawi goalkeeper Charles Thomu was extremely busy. He made great diving saves to deny Hakimi and Sofiane Boufal from close range.

But on the stroke of half-time Morocco got a deserved equaliser through En Nesyri, powerfully heading in a fine Selim Amallah cross at the far post.

Morocco continued to push for a winner in the second half and they got it in stunning fashion in the 70th minute as Hakimi curled his sublime free-kick into the top corner.

BY JAMES KILPATRICK – African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.