Senegal beat Algeria in the final of the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) to claim its first championship on Saturday, February 4.
The hosts Teranga Lions ended Algeria’s hopes of hosting and winning the tournament by beating them 5-4 on penalties at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.
In a year in which they have won the famous Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as well as the Africa Beach soccer, Pape Thiaw’s team will look back and be pleased with their performance on the night.
The first minutes of the final, intended to crown the new champions of the continental tournament held for players playing in their respective national leagues, seemed to cause anxiety on both sides.
The intensity increased when Gabon referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho showed four yellow cards in the first 30 minutes, but they quickly calmed down and started playing focused to gain the upper hand.
No goals to separate the two teams after the first 45 minutes of play.
The Senegal benches stood still as Senegal nearly scored in the 56th minute, but Diallo’s long shot from outside the box went over the bar.
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The game went into extra time after no goals were scored in the second half before going into the penalty shootout.
Aimen Mahious and Ahmed Kendouci respectively missed on the penalty spot while Cheikhou Ndiaye was also absent from the penalty spot, Senegal won the championship.
Meanwhile, Algeria has set a new tournament record of going six consecutive games without conceding a goal.