The Liverpool striker shone in the 3-1 (0-0) semifinals in Yaoundé against Burkina Faso with Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba scoring and assisting. In the final on Sunday (February 6th, 2022) it is against hosts Cameroon or Mohamed Salah’s Egyptians. In 2019, Senegal failed in the final against Algeria, now Mane, Bayern Munich’s Bouna Sarr and Co. want to do better and win their country’s first title in the continental competition.
Former Dortmund player Abdou Diallo (70th), Idrissa Gueye (76th) and Mané (87th) made the decision on Wednesday. The interim goal from Blati Toure (83′), who scored with a knee, was not enough for Burkina Faso.
Two penalties revised by VAR
In the first half, Egyptian referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa awarded Senegal a penalty twice, but revised it after viewing the video images. In the second half, the favorite struck twice in just six minutes: Diallo scored from a corner and Gueye after a pass from Mané.
When the underdog defended himself again and came to 1: 2, Mané destroyed all hopes of Burkina Faso.
Changes to the tournament schedule
On Wednesday, the organizers had also made changes to the game plan at very short notice and brought the match for third place from Sunday to Saturday.
The “small final” and the final on Sunday could not be logistically managed. Therefore, Burkina Faso meets the loser between Egypt and Cameroon in the capital Yaoundé on Saturday.