Senegal have successfully defended their Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations crown after beating Egypt 6-5 on penalties in Friday’s final that took place in Mozambique.
The Teranga Lions settled for a 2-2 at the end of regular time but captain Al Seyni Ndiaye produced a heroic save in the sudden death of the penalty shoot-out to seal a 6-5 win.
Diagne opened the scoring for Senegal in the seventh minute but Egypt responded with two quick-fire goals from Ibrahim and Hassane Hussein in the second quarter. Senegal, however, rallied back with Raoul Mendy netting the equaliser.
Earlier this month, Senegal and Egypt met in the COSAFA Cup final but the Teranga Lions came out victorious with a 5-4 result.
The victory secured Senegal’s fourth successive title and their record seventh title in the Beach Soccer AFCON.
Before the start of the game, Senegal’s hero Ndiaye was celebrated as he marks his 150th appearance in a Beach Soccer match.
Morocco, earlier on Friday, sealed a third-place finish with a 6-4 win over host country, Mozambique. Goals from Zouhair Jabbary, Ali El Khdym, Azzedine El Hamidy, Anouar Frindy, Rabi Aboutalbi and Gerson Chivale’s own goal helped the Atlas Lions equal the feat they achieved in last year’s edition in Senegal.
For the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, finalists Senegal and Egypt will fly the continent’s flag in a yet-to-be-decided host country.
