The 2021 African Cup of Nations is finally coming to a close with the tournament showcasing some intriguing actions filled with emotions, goals, setbacks and also a set of dramatic moments. The final of the month-old tournament will see Liverpool teammates Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane come head-to-head as Egypt take on Senegal with both teams looking to get their hands on the highly-coveted AFCON title.
Unbeaten in the tournament so far, and winning all their knockout games comfortably, Senegal have had a very good campaign, living up to expectations as early favourites to lift the trophy courtesy a golden generation of players which include the likes Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Édouard Mendy and Ismaila Sarr. The Lions will be looking to get their first-ever AFCON title after coming close by finishing as runner up in the 2019 edition, they will have to see out a disciplined Egypt team who are in a journey to get a record-extending eighth title which surprisingly would be their first in 12 years.
Both teams will go into the game with maximum team spirit and hunger as winning the title will be a huge feat for either teams.
LIVE ODDS
Senegal are unsurprisingly placed as favourites by the bookmakers to win the game courtesy of their blistering form and star-studded lineup. The Lions of Teranga are placed on 2.14 to get the win over 90 minutes on Sportsbet.io while their opponents are placed on 4.10 to steal victory. Sportsbet.io fancies the game to go into extra time at a whopping 2.70. The odds show a glimpse of unpredictability in the encounter which provides a hint on the potential cracker we’re about to witness.
TEAM NEWS
Egypt will be forced to play the game without head coach Carlos Queiroz after he picked up a sending off in their previous game against Cameroon. Roger de Sa, his assistant also will not be available for the game as he still serves a four-match ban handed to him after the quarter-final victory over Morocco for a row in the tunnel. The Pharaohs will also be without right-back Omar Kabal who is suspended as a result of accumulation of yellow cards. Central back Ahmed Hegazy is a doubt after he missed the semifinal while Akram Tawfik is ruled out. Senegal do not have any major absentees for the game and will come with a full squad.
MATCH PREVIEW
The final of the African Cup of Nations 2021 will kick off at 8:00 PM Nigerian time at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The game promises a thrilling 90 minutes with both teams hungry as ever for the title.
Aliou Cisse led this golden generation of Senegal team to the final of the 2019 AFCON but fell short against an in-form Algeria team. The Lions are now in the final in back to back tournaments and will have a second chance to get their hands on the title for the first time in their history. The team have been in top form so far in the tournament and will look to continue the run in Yaounde.
Egypt on the other side have had a less convincing tournament compared to their rivals. Having lost their opening game of the tournament against Nigeria, the Pharaohs bounced back to win their final two games and qualified for the Round of 16. They scrapped wins in all their knockout games courtesy of two penalty shootout victories in the Round of 16 and semifinal, as well as a victory after extra time in the quarter-final. Their discipline and teamwork have brought them so far and they will try to use that as a weapon to defeat shock their rivals in a mouth-watering final.
Egypt lead the head-to-head stats in this fixture with 6 wins in 12 games compared to Senegal’s 4. They have played out to a draw on two occasions, however, Senegal have come out victorious in their last two games with Egypt’s last win coming in 2006. The fixture favours the Pharaohs while form favours the Lions of Teranga.
BETTING TIPS
The 2021 AFCON have been pretty disappointing in terms of goals output, but this game promises to be an end-to-end encounter with both teams really powerful in attack. The odd for the game to see at least two goals is placed at 1.68 on Sportsbet.io with both teams to score at least one goal each placed at a wowing 2.56. Considering their form, Senegal are favoured (1.50) to lift the trophy.
