By Emmanuel Ebimoh
The stage is set for the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations – Africa’s most prestigious football competition. It’s been 5 weeks of riveting football packed with beautiful dribbles, outstanding saves, sensational goals, and elegant team celebrations. Soccer fans all over the world have been thrilled with the gift of some of the best of African football talents on display. For a few teams that competed, it was an opportunity to taste the beauty of the tournament for the first time and blend their team for future exposure. While for many others, it was more than just showing up among the rest, they had eyes for the crown.
The tournament has also been spiced with more dramas and surprises as expected in a high-profile football competition. Debutants like Madagascar had an impressive show as they battled through to the quarter-finals. The host, Egypt were knocked out in mind-blowing style by South Africa, while cup holders, Cameroon were eliminated by eventual third-place winners, Nigeria. No doubt, the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations has been more fun and interesting.
And now, the much anticipated grand finale is upon us. Two underachievers in Africa football, but arguably strong powerhouses, file up tonight in a battle for supremacy and glory. The Teranga Lions of Senegal, who have never won the AFCON competition, slug it out against 1990 and one-time winners of the competition, Algeria in what would be a contest between the West and the North.
Without a doubt, the hopes of the two competing nations in the finals will rest on the shoulders of Sadio Mane of Senegal and Riyad Mahrez of Algeria. The two stars, who play for giant Premier League clubs – Liverpool and Manchester City respectively, have helped fire their teams into tonight’s showpiece match in Cairo adding to the successful seasons with their respective clubs. Mane won the Champions League with Liverpool, while Algeria’s captain, Mahrez was part of the Manchester City side that completed a domestic treble in England last season.
Senegal, who lost to Algeria in the group stage of this competition, will be without key centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly who is suspended for the final owing to the yellow card he picked up in the semi-finals.
Algeria, however, are the only team that have not lost a game so far in the competition. With stars like Galatasaray’s Sofiane Feghouli, Adlene Guedioura, and the mercurial Riyad Mahrez, Algeria may have some firepower to trouble the Senegalese defence in the final.
Senegal have also had some beautiful moments of brilliance in the competition and they would be hoping to be on their A-game in tonight’s final. If they would stand a chance of victory stars like Ismaila Sarr, Idrissa Gana Gueye, and Sadio Mane would have to come to the party.
As the curtains close on these exciting 5 weeks of scintillating football, the world waits eagerly for who will emerge as the new king of Africa football. Will the Teranga Lions of Senegal snatch their first-ever AFCON trophy, or will the Desert Foxes of Algeria make it their second continental victory? The world awaits.
Emmanuel Ebimoh is a football writer and editor for 9News Nigeria. You can reach him via email on emmyebimoh@gmail.com
