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7 February 2022
Abdou Diallo, Kalidou Koulibaly and Nampalys Mendy champions of Africa !
Thanks to their win on penalties against Egypt, Senegal won this Sunday the first African Cup of Nations in their history. The team included three players who had already played in the tournament: Abdou Diallo, Kalidou Koulibaly and Nampalys Mendy.
The Senegalese have finally made up for the anomaly of never having won an African Cup of Nations by beating Egypt on penalties on Sunday after a tough and intense final (0-0, 4-2 tab). The 2021 edition (played in 2022 after the postponement of the initial edition due to the pandemic) was the right one. Guided by former senior international Aliou Cisse, the Lions of Teranga have finally won the star, their first, which they will now proudly wear on their shirts.
Abdou Diallo during the Maurice Revello Tournament in 2016
Three of the players in this team played in the Maurice Revello Tournament in their youth: Abdou Diallo (2016), Kalidou Koulibaly (2011) and Nampalys Mendy (2012 and 2013). Another special fact about these three internationals : they had not yet opted for the Senegalese national team at the time and had therefore played in the Tournament with the French national team. For Mendy, the story with the Festival is even older, going back to his childhood. Between the ages of 9 and 13, the midfielder played for Racing Football Club Toulon, the club created in 1970 and for a long time presided by Maurice Revello, the founder of the Tournament now named after him. Nampalys Mendy is thus the first continental champion in the history of the Toulon amateur club, which specialises in training young players.
Nampalys Mendy during the 2013 Maurice Revello Tournament
Kalidou Koulibaly (on the right) during the 2011 Maurice Revello Tournament
A tough first round... before a perfect final round
These three former players have thus participated in Senegal's impeccable performance at this AFCON. After a group phase in which they finished first in their group despite some difficulties in their game and an attack in dry spell (only one goal scored in three games), they showed more inspiration and an unwavering strength of character during the final phase. First by defeating Cape Verde in the round of sixteen (2-0), then by beating Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-final (3-1). Senegal avoided the trap against a surprising Burkina Faso team in the semi-final by playing perhaps their best game of the competition. The result was a 3-1 victory, with Abdou Diallo scoring from a Kalidou Koulibaly assist.
The final was more closed, tactical and tense. Sadio Mané's team-mates dominated the game, but for a long time they were held back by Gabaski, the Egyptian goalkeeper who put in a heroic performance by keeping out all of the opposition's attempts... He was less successful in the penalty shoot-out. The three former players of the Tournament, all of whom started the final, did not hesitate, as did Koulibaly and Diallo, who converted their shots. It was certainly one of the finest achievements of their careers. They are now part of the legend of their country and their national team.
Mathieu Lauricella
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