AFCON: Sadio Mane sees penalty saved after Mohamed Salah has words with Gabaski | OneFootball

There was early drama in the Africa Cup of Nations final between Egypt and Senegal on Sunday evening.

Senegal were given a penalty just a few minutes into the game when Saliou Ciss was bought down by Mohamed Abdelmonem’s rash challenge.

Sadio Mane stepped up with a golden opportunity to give his side an early lead.

But, despite Mane looking confident, he saw his powerful effort saved by Mohamed Abou Gabal.

Mohamed Salah’s intervention may well have inspired the Egyptian goalkeeper to make the save.

Of course, Salah knows Mane well given they are teammates at Liverpool.

And so, just before the penalty was taken, he had some words of advice for the 33-year-old stopper.

Mane saw Salah having words with him and instructed the goalkeeper to get back on his line.

It is unknown exactly what was said but Salah’s words appeared to pay off as Gabal guessed the right way and kept Mane’s penalty out.

And view Salah having words with his goalkeeper and Mane below…

Fortunately for Mane, he was able to redeem himself later on in the game.

With neither side able to break the deadlock, the game went all the way to penalties.

After misses from 12 yards by Mohamed Abdelmonem and Mohanad Lasheen, Mane was given the opportunity to gain redemption and win the tournament for his side.

Mane had looked like the most nervous man in the stadium earlier in the shootout as he paced up and down while the spot-kicks were going on.