Two things stood out at the end of the 2021 African Cup of Nations that took place from January 9 to February 6, 2022 in Cameroon. Rejoicing– Senegal won its first-ever AFCON title. Second, tragedy– a wild stampede resulted in at least 8 spectators dead and scores injured.

After the terrible rampaging incident that ruined the round of 16 encounter in between host country Cameroon and Comoros, the remainder of the games went on smoothly.

Long-time Cameroon President Paul Biya has purchased a immediate and comprehensive examination into the case. The stampede was reportedly set off by a crowd of 50,000 fans who wanted to see the game at the recently constructed 60,000-seat Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Cameroon officials conserved the day for football when they did disappoint any doubt in progressing on the tournament’s remaining schedule, however with stricter security steps to prevent a repeat of the disaster.

The same could not be stated for safeguarding champ Algeria and highly-rated Ghana, nevertheless, as both failed to advance to the round of 16.

In the round of 16, Tunisia distressed three-time AFCON champion Nigeria, while seven-time winner Egypt narrowly escaped with a win against unheralded Ivory Coast by means of a penalty shootout after policy. In the quarterfinals, Egypt edged Morocco, 2-1; Cameroon booted out Gambia, 2-0; Senegal trounced Equatorial New Guinea, 3-1; and Burkina Faso nipped Tunisia, 1-0, to advance to the semis.

Despite being the runner-up in the 2018 edition of AFCON, extremely couple of thought the Senegalese stood an opportunity against Egypt. After all, the Pharaohs had actually faced more fancied groups– Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Cameroon– en path to the finals. By sheer luck of the draw and circumstances, Senegal won over reasonably lighter opponents– Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, and Burkina Faso from group phase to the semis.

The Les Lions de las Teranga (Lions of Teranga) were undefeated in their last 11 matches throughout all tournaments, having won eight and drawn three matches.

On the other hand, Egypt had won three, tied 4, and gave up 3 of its last 10 matches across all competitors. In the AFCON, Egypt had lost one match during the group phase, while Senegal was undefeated, leading up to the finals.

Senegal has actually also gotten the services of Premier League mainstays Edouard Mendy of Chelsea and Chiekhou Kouyate of Crystal Palace for this moment.

For these reasons, Betway believed Senegal had an outstanding chance of winning the game against Egypt– and it did.

It was a class act by Senegal, but an even classier act by Cameroon, which rose from the ashes of a catastrophe to declare an effective end to the 2020 African Cup of Nations.

ToriNG