Senegal footballer Sadio Mane Mane scored the winning spot-kick as Senegal claimed a first ever Africa Cup of Nations title with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over seven-time winners Egypt in Yaounde on January 6, 2022. Mane had missed an early penalty in the game but stepped up to make history for the West African nation, and banish the memories of their 2019. Senegal’s football team was given a hero’s welcome upon their return home after winning the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.
The celebrations in Senegal began straight after the final whistle on Sunday night, i.e. January 6, seconds after Liverpool’s Sadio Mane sealed the historic victory over Egypt on penalties. People poured on to the streets of Dakar, dancing and firing fireworks into the air. Tens of thousands of ecstatic revellers celebrated the players’ return to Dakar, sitting on top of cars and dancing in the capital’s streets. Even President Macky Sall was among those greeting the team at the airport. When coach Aliou Cissé raised the trophy cup from the roof of the team’s victory bus, crowds cheered in delight. Many Senegalese described the victory as an unforgettable moment that will last forever. The authorities declared Monday a national holiday keeping in view people’s mood to celebrate the occasion.
Africa Cup of Nations or African Cup of Nations is the most prestigious football (soccer) competition in Africa. It is contested by national teams and is organized by the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF). Since 2019, 24 teams participate in the competition. Since 1968 qualifying rounds were introduced as the number of teams started expanding. The same year that CAF decided to hold the tournament biennially.