One day, maybe, Mohamed Salah will overcome Sadio Mané in a crucial match, but not on Wednesday, not in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final. When Senegal defeated Egypt in a penalty shootout in the 2021 Afcon final, Mané scored the decisive penalty before Salah’s turn. In the World Cup qualifying playoff shootout, Salah missed his attempt while Mané scored the winning penalty. This time, it didn’t reach penalties, but Mané remained the hero, scoring the lone goal with 12 minutes to go.
Semi-finals are infamously not about the playing but about the winning, yet this was one of the worst examples. There were fouls, grappling, time-wasting, feigned injuries, numerous efforts to influence the referee, and many bursts of fake outrage. There was much sideways passing but minimal imagination, flair, or quality. As a spectacle, it was dismal; it held attention solely due to the high stakes.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com