Football: Senegal on the roof of Africa

Senegal won an edition of CHAN disrupted by the diplomatic battle between Algiers and Rabat. An important victory, without conceding a single goal.

If it was marked by geopolitical affairs, with the refusal of Morocco to come and play the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria, the public was, at the end of the tournament, devoted to the sporting aspect. And he was not disappointed. While Algeria had achieved, until then, a perfect competition, conceding no goal, the Fennecs fell on an impressive Senegalese team.

The Lions of Teranga are on a little cloud: after the consecration of the Senegalese in Cameroon, during the last African Cup of Nations (CAN), they have just won the CHAN. Deserved for a nation that has been at the top of the FIFA African rankings for a long time but who struggled to convert his position by winning continental competitions.

The country of Sadio Mané has finally done a double blow. And how ! Senegal defeated Côte d'Ivoire, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the group stage without conceding a single goal. Then beat Mauritania, Madagascar and finally the host country, Algeria, in the final.

The Teranga Lions kept their clean sheets. It was necessary, during the final against Algeria, to finish on penalties. Deserved but surprising. Because the Senegalese and CHAN, it's a complicated story: the Lions have indeed been absent from the tournament since 2011. They were therefore far from being favorites.

Facing them, the Fennecs were necessarily over-motivated, pushed by an audience who dreamed of seeing their selection win and take back the trophy in Morocco. But the Algerians foiled. A choppy game, too much pressure and very few scoring opportunities… The Algerians certainly pushed, but did not manage to open the scoring.

The Senegalese, they were able to count on an imperial Pope Sy. The goalkeeper, the tournament's best goalkeeper, will have helped to keep his clean sheets. In particular by stopping the shot of Aymen Mahious, top scorer of this edition of CHAN.

“All the Senegalese people are proud of your career. You have been heroic at every level. Bravo for this continental title. Congratulations to the technical staff and to all the supporters, ”said Sadio Mané on social networks, who knows that the succession is assured.