Egypt’s national team failed to win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after being defeated by Senegal 2-4 on penalties. Competing at the Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon, Monday (7/2/2022), Senegal and Egypt played equally strong 0-0 for 120 minutes.
In the penalty shootout, the Egyptian national team lost after Mohamed Abdelmonem’s execution hit the post and Mohanad Lasheen’s shot was parried by Edouard Mendy. Meanwhile, Sadio Mane became Senegal’s fifth or decisive executor and ensured his team’s victory over Egypt.
This result made Senegal make history. After going through three finals, Senegal finally won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah seemed to “disappear” in this match.
Although he was able to make two attempts on target, his efforts were still not enough to harm the Senegal goal. Mo Salah also looks difficult to score because he often stagnates in front of Senegal’s strong defensive wall. In addition, Mane’s Liverpool teammate made a fatal decision during the penalty shootout.
Fatal Decision Mo Salah
The captain of the Senegal national team, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Mo Salah as the captain of the Egyptian national team made a penalty shootout. Salah also won the toss by referee Victor Gomes. Mo Salah decides Egypt to hand Senegal the first penalty kick. Television broadcasts showed how the decision was made.
After the coin was tossed and landed in his hand, the referee Gomes immediately thrust his hand towards Salah indicating he won a coin high five. “You chose the right side of the coin, what would you like to choose?” said referee Gomes. Salah then replied “save first” before saying something to the referee that was not heard on broadcast.
After a brief language barrier, the referee reconfirmed to Salah, “so you chose to save first huh” with the striker nodding. Immediately, the referee then turned to Koulibaly saying, “Then you kick first.”
Technically and according to many observers, this decision saw Egypt hand the initiative to Senegal and put their kickers under more pressure every time the opposing team managed to finish off their chances. In the end, two Egyptian penalties missed and Senegal won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mo Salah Takes Fifth Penalty
Another Mo Salah decision that can be claimed to be fatal is to take the fifth penalty in the shootout. The 29-year-old has a good penalty-goal ratio, so Egypt’s potential to score could be higher.
Reporting from Transfermarkt, Mo Salah has scored 24 goals from 29 attempts for club and country in all competitions. Unfortunately, he decided to take the fifth penalty and was canceled as the executioner after two of his compatriots failed to enter the ball.
Mo Salah “Glory Hunter”
Mo Salah who decided to take the fifth penalty drew a lot of criticism. Through social media, netizens accused Mo Salah of being a glory hunter because he seemed to want to become an Egyptian hero by becoming the fifth penalty taker.
Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher also regretted Mo Salah’s decision. “That’s why your best penalty taker can’t be fifth,” Carragher wrote on Twitter. “Mo Salah not taking a penalty for Egypt in the shootout in the final is madness,” he said.
