A look back at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations: Senegal clinch maiden title

The tournament will take place from January 13, 2024 until February 11, 2024 and will be available on the SABC channels across all broadcasting platforms in South Africa.

Here, SABC Sport takes a look back at the 2021 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

A thrilling showpiece in 2021 concluded with an historic triumph for Senegal, securing their first-ever title after past disappointments in 2002 and 2019.

The tournament, marked by surprises, witnessed reigning champions Algeria and powerhouse Ghana exiting in the group stages. However, it was characterised by a prevalence of low-scoring matches.

Entering the competition as the top-ranked African nation, Senegal faced setbacks with a Covid outbreak ahead of their opener against Zimbabwe, resulting in key players missing the initial two group games.

Despite a lacklustre start, narrowly defeating Zimbabwe 1-0 and recording two goalless draws against Guinea and Malawi, Senegal's attacking prowess flourished in the knockout stages.

A notable return from injury, Ismaila Sarr, bolstered their strikeforce. But what truly stood out was Senegal's solid defensive display, as they remained unscathed throughout their successful seven-game campaign.

In the final against Egypt, Senegal faced a resilient opponent aiming for their eighth title. The match extended to a penalty shootout after extra time remained goalless.

Egypt, managed by Carlos Queiroz, made history by playing extra time in four matches, a first in men's World Cup or confederation tournament history.

But they fell at the final hurdle, with Liverpool forward Sadio Mane proving to be the match-winner as he slotted home the winning spot-kick to seal a 4-2 win in the shootout.

Cameroon's Vincent Aboubakar emerged as a tournament star, defying previous AFCON performances. 

Scoring eight goals, including a crucial winner in the round of 16 and a brace in the third-place playoff, Aboubakar equalled Laurent Pokou's 1970 tally but fell one goal short of Ndaye Mulamba's all-time record in 1974.

Despite the slow start, Senegal's AFCON journey culminated in a well-deserved victory, marking a significant milestone in their football history.

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