4 Tips for the AFCON Final and Third-Place Playoff

A lot of games in the Africa Cup of Nations so far have been very close, and that is even truer in Egypt’s case as all of their games in the tournament so far have been draws or decided by one goal, with coach Carlos Queiroz prioritising defensive stability in his team, with all three of their knockout games going to extra-time too.

Senegal have managed to get through the knockout stages with ease, winning each game by two goals in normal time, but in a final when neither team will want to commit too much, extra time and penalties are a likely scenario.

Liverpool’s dynamic duo will be facing off against each other in the AFCON final, with both desperately wanting to win the trophy for their country, and both have the ability to win it on their own.

Neither player has completely shone during this tournament so far with Salah only producing two goals and Mane scoring three times, but with the ability they have shown over the years at club level, you won’t put it past both of them to produce for their countries.

Hosts Cameroon would’ve been disappointed to have gone out the way they did on penalties to Egypt after impressing throughout the tournament, especially their forwards Aboubakar and Ekambi.

They are the only two players to score for Cameroon in this tournament, with Aboubakar scoring six goals and Toko Ekambi scoring five, and they have already both scored in a game twice this tournament.

Cameroon have already faced Burkina Faso this tournament, with Cameroon coming out 2-1 winners, with Aboubakar scoring twice, showing that they have the ability to score goals against this Burkina Faso defence.

Cameroon showed earlier in the tournament in the opening game that they are more than capable of beating Burkina Faso, despite going a goal down early in the game, they were able to quickly comeback and win the game.

Both teams have shown this tournament that they are able to score goals, Burkina Faso despite never scoring more than one goal in a game, have scored in every game, and Cameroon have shown their scoring ability so far, as they are the top scorers in the tournament, scoring in all but their last game.