It's AFCON final day as Senegal and Egypt battle it out for international glory tonight. Ahead of the match we provide all the necessary pre-game information, including where to watch the final, team news and probable XIs.
When is kick off?
Sunday 6th February, 19:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Paul Biya Stadium, Olembe (Cameroon)
What TV channel is it on?
Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football, BBC Three
Route to the final
Senegal haven't really needed to move into top gear in their progression to the AFCON final. They picked up five points from their three group games, scoing just one goal and conceding none in the process, but have started to kick it up a notch as we approach Sunday's meeting with Egypt. Indeed, they earned comfortable victories over Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso to book their spot in the final.
Egypt recovered well from their group stage defeat to Nigeria to kick off their AFCON campaign with back-to-back 1-0 wins over Guinea-Bissau and Sudan. Their route to Sunday's game has been a tad more difficult than Senegal's, with Egypt going to extra time to eventually beat African heavyweights Cote d'Ivoire, Morocco and Cameroon. Having played an additional 90 minutes of game time, fatigue may prove a defining factor tonight.
Team news
Senegal have no injury or suspension concerns of note, with the main selection headache for Aliou Cisse being who joins Sadio Mane and Famara Diedhiou on the frontline. Bamba Dieng marked his first start at the competition with a goal against Burkina Faso, but Ismaila Sarr provided an assist off the bench in the 3-1 semi-final victory and is pushing for a spot in the starting XI.
As for Egypt, they are without key centre-back Ahmed Hegazy, while Akram Tawfik is also absent. The Pharaohs are also sweating on the fitness of midfielder Hamdy Fathy and goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, though Mohamed Abou Gabal saved two penalties against Cameroon and is hoping to keep his spot between the sticks. Head coach Carlos Queiroz won't be in the dugout after he was sent off against Cameroon.
Probable XIs
Senegal (433) - E. Mendy; B. Sarr, Koulibaly, Diallo, Ciss; Kouyate, N. Mendy, Gueye; Dieng, Diedhiou, Mane
Egypt (433) - Gabal; Kamal, Abdelmonem, Wensh, El Fotouh; Elneny, Fathy, Soleya; Salah, Mohamed, Marmoush
Key battle: Sadio Mane vs Mohamed Salah
Every Liverpool fan's worst nightmare. Key attackers Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah both helped their respective nation to the AFCON final and while Jurgen Klopp has admitted the pair will be available for the Reds' meeting with Leicester on Thursday, the forwards have featured prominetly for Senegal and Egypt, respectively, over the course of the competition.
Salah may be the star man in the Premier League, but it's Mane who has hogged the limelight of the pair. Indeed, he has won the WhoScored man of the match award in four of Senegal's six games at AFCON, including each of their three knockout games, while a rating of 7.74 is the third best at the competition.
That isn't to say Salah hasn't come up clutch for Egypt. He scored the only goal of the game in their group stage win over Sudan and scored one and assisted another in the 2-1 win over Morocco. The 29-year-old may not have been lighting up AFCON in the same way he has the Premier League, but the Egypt forward has the means to turn a match in his side's favour in the blink of an eye.
Score Prediction: Senegal 2-1 Egypt
