On February 6, Senegal won its first AFCON title by beating Egypt on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes.
Among the storylines going in was the duel between Liverpool teammates Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah. Many consider Salah the greatest African talent of the last five to 10 years. However, it his Anfield teammate takes the headlines.
Senegal’s first African Cup of Nations triumph over the Pharaohs of Egypt places Sadio Mané in the upper echelon of African soccer icons.
Not only did Sadio Mané bolster his legacy by winning an international tournament, but he dominated. The Senegalese won Player of the Tournament with his <a href="https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/01/afcon-2021-stats-hub/">three goals and two assists</a>.
This triumph, along with his consistency for Liverpool and his prior clubs, shows Mané’s brilliance. Of all the great players to come from the continent, he is among the best.
<h5>Team Win</h5>
As the saying goes, the best way to build a team is through the spine.
Edouard Mendy, FIFA’s Best Men’s Goalkeeper of 2021, was an essential piece of the starting lineup. The 29-year-old was a backup on the squad that made the AFCON Final in 2019 and lost to Algeria, 1-0. This time around, the Chelsea player was key. He saved a penalty against Mohanad Lasheen in the final. Mendy received the award for Africa Cup of Nations Best Goalkeeper at the tournament.
Center-back and captain Kalidou Koulibaly anchored the backline. Then, vice-captain Idrissa Gueye led the engine room in midfield with Cheikhou Kouyaté and Nampalys Mendy. Nampaly Mendy is one of three Senegalese players to switch their nationality from France. the other two are center-back Abdou Diallo and right-back Bouna Sarr.
Generally, the tip of that spine is the striker. However, the man carrying the hopes and dreams of Senegal occupied the left wing and wore the No. 10.
<h3><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-30 alignnone" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20220213_CMS_370600_7d546e2d63e11bd805c0701579d3f8ef8c1a42a6_68b362a5.webp&amp;width=768&amp;height=557" width="768" height="557"></figure></h3>
<h3>Focal point of Sadio Mané’s legacy</h3>
When Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo won their continental cups internationally, the relief and joy was palpable. Sadio Mané may not be as famous or decorated as those two. However, the same excitement exists with an international trophy, regardless of the country.
Mané realized that greatness in his comments after the final.
<blockquote>“I am very proud. I think it’s the best moment of my life. This day, I think is the best day. I won the Champions League and some other trophies, but I think this is the most special one for me. This is more important for me.”</blockquote>
The Liverpool No. 10 served as the main outlet in Senegal’s counterattacks. He was the fulcrum of their creativity, as seen with his 13 chances created. In fact, this was second in the tournament to only his Liverpool teammate Salah.
In the final, the Teranga Lions dominated possession and in the seventh minute, they drew a penalty. Cameras captures Salah giving advice to Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal. Unsurprisingly, Salah often practices spot kicks with Mané. Supposedly, the Senegalese approached them and claimed he would shoot in another direction.
Regardless, The shot was blocked by Abou Gabal, who actually won man of the match in the final despite the loss.
Ismaïla Sarr was the best attacking player for Senegal in the match. He created a couple of tap-in opportunities with his crosses, but the 2019 African Footballer of the Year was late with his reaction time for Sarr’s passes.
After a scoreless 120 minutes, Egypt seemed the favorite to win on penalties. After all, the Pharaohs won their quarterfinal and semifinal games on penalties against Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, respectively.
But this time around, Senegal prevailed. Sadio Mané’s game-winning penalty redeemed his game performance and his legacy.
<h5>The Mountain Top</h5>
Success at the international level is a long-awaited goal for Sadio Mané.
<blockquote>“To win for my country, which has never won a Cup of Nations, would be magnificent. I am even ready to trade in my Champions League success to win the Africa Cup of Nations. The return to Dakar [with the trophy] would be extraordinary. That is my craziest dream.”</blockquote>
The dream is now a reality. During the celebrations in Dakar, president Macky Sall gifted the team with 50,000,000 CFA francs ($87,178), a 200-square meter plot of land in Dakar and a 500-square meter plot of land in the first district of the new city of Diamniadio.
The biggest prize may have been the boost to Sadio Mané’s legacy. Now that he has an AFCON title, the joint-2018/19 Premier League Golden Boot winner is now one of the 10 greatest African players of all-time. The Mount Rushmore remains untouched; Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba and George Weah. Mané is now in the second group with Salah and Abedi Pele. For reference, Roger Milla, Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu close out the top 10.
The domestic season has seen Mané return to form as he currently has eight league goals in 20 appearances. Last year, he had 11 goals in 35 appearances. The former Premier League winner also reached the mark of 100 league goals. Additionally, he is the sixth player to reach the feat without scoring a penalty.
Mané will be remembered as one of kindest celebrities in history and as a legendary athlete who brought joy to his nation. And, still, more chapters remain in his incredible story.
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Sadio Mané’s legacy among Africa’s best solidified by AFCON

He won AFCON 2021 and was the best player in the tournament. Sadio Mané's legacy among Africa's best ever is a secure argument.

Sadio Mané's legacy among Africa's best solidified by AFCON - World Soccer Talk

North Africa’s dominance in the CAF Champions League is especially prominent over recent years. Egyptian side Al Ahly’s back-to-back titles is just the beginning.
From Cameroonian club dominance to Al Ahly’s impressive successes, the CAF Champions League produces remarkable moments. Africa’s premier club soccer tournament developed numerous soccer stars like Vincent Enyeama and Hossam Hassan. It gives clubs from all over Africa a chance to show their skills.
Yet, North African clubs own a monopoly over the CAF Champions League in recent years. Since 2016, elite North African clubs triumphed in the premier club tournament on the continent. This season, Al Ahly enters as the two-time holders of the competition.
The stranglehold by the region is not simply quality or commitment discrepancies. As seen, AFCON, as well as other club competitions, can <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/16999874" target="_blank" rel="noopener">produce underdogs</a> that bring trophies home.
The differences lie elsewhere in regards to North Africa’s dominance in the CAF Champions League.
<h3>Explaining North Africa’s dominance in the competition</h3>
For reference, we designate Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco and Libya as North Africa. These are the nations that span the Mediterranean Sea and fall under the Union of North African Football, or UNAF.
North African club soccer certainly trumps other African clubs. In the competition’s near-60-year history, North African clubs won 33 titles, more than all other nation’s clubs combined. Trophies are one thing. The debate stems from how the North African sides dominate.
The simple answer would be to say skill or quality. Looking at the African Cup of Nations, UNAF nations do hold a lead in terms of number of champions. Egypt (7), Algeria (2), Morocco (1) and Tunisia (1) account for 11 titles. UNAF has more than any other region of Africa.
This is impressive, yes, but it is only a narrow lead over West Africa’s 10 titles and Central Africa’s eight. Meanwhile, the club scene runs through North Africa, and that much is undisputed.
<h5>North African clubs standing out</h5>
Journalist Maher Mezahi writes this dominance on the club scene exists because of the funding of North African sides.
<blockquote>“The simple truth is that many North African clubs possess sizeable budgets, allowing for the construction of infrastructure and better player acquisition,” he wrote in a <a href="https://mg.co.za/article/2019-04-30-the-secret-of-north-africas-football-dominance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2019 article</a>.</blockquote>
North Africa has more private investors investing in clubs so teams can spend more. Club infrastructure via training grounds and stadiums draws in players. Of course, these facilities are wildly expensive for the most lavish of options. Many African clubs do not have the funding to support something of this nature.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns manager Pitso Mosimane told KICKOFF <a href="https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/world-news/categories/news/caf-champions-league/mamelodi-sundowns-coach-pitso-mosimane-e/593965" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his thoughts</a> on North African clubs’ dominance.
<blockquote>“The big thing about North Africans is all about the intimidation. It is about how the officials handle the stress and the pressure,” Mosimane said.</blockquote>
Fan bases in North Africa are very energetic and sometimes hard to handle.
North Africa’s dominance comes from a mix of both money and intimidation. On one hand, money and marketing impact how rosters are made up. Therefore, better talent, players, coaches and facilities can be intimidating to those on the outside.
Yet there are countless other reasons too. They range from the popularity of soccer to the corruption that plagues football associations.
<h3><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-370572 size-full" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20220210_CMS_365991_CAF-Champions-League-Trophy_f93464c1.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=900" alt="CAF Champions League trophy" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/CAF-Champions-League-Trophy.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/CAF-Champions-League-Trophy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/CAF-Champions-League-Trophy-600x450.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/CAF-Champions-League-Trophy-150x113.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/02/CAF-Champions-League-Trophy-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></h3>
<h3>Hope for the underdogs and outliers</h3>
There is hope for Africa’s sub-Saharan sides.
This era draws comparisons to when the Congo dominated in the 1960s and Cameroon’s success in the 1980s. The current period exemplifies North Africa’s dominance in the CAF Champions League.
Other clubs need to adapt now more than ever. Although North Africa’s dominance looks near insurmountable, there are examples of how to <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/caf-champions-league/story/4001768/how-mamelodi-sundowns-became-the-caf-champions-leagues-trickiest-customer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">take down some of Africa’s mightiest fighters</a>.
<h5>Breaking down the groups</h5>
Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of North African clubs. The CAF Champions League includes defending champions Al Ahly, famed club Raja Casablanca, and more. However, no one expected how dominant North Africa would be in qualifying. Half of the teams in the group stage, eight out of 16, are North African.
Clubs from North Africa do not just reign in quantity but also quality. North African teams form the top-five sides for seeding. Essentially, UNAF clubs held the highest places in CAF’s five-Year Ranking. The best four associations, according to the CAF five-year ranking, are from North Africa. This, yet again, reaffirms North Africa’s dominance.
North Africa’s power is unparalleled, but some teams could lift the trophy in this campaign.
<h5>Preview</h5>
Al Ahly is the favorite to take home the CAF Champions League trophy. Coming off two consecutive Champions League victories, Al Ahly is also a domestic powerhouse. Fellow Egyptian side Zamalek, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Tunisian titleholders Esperance Tunis could also take the title.
Yet numerous sleeper candidates pose problems to the perennial contenders. Sides like AmaZulu from South Africa or Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel will be problematic for the pre-established elite. Horoya AC will also cause trouble in a field full of fascinating sides.
On beIN Sports, many players will show their skills and attract the attention of clubs from other continents. Malian international <a href="https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/aliou-dieng-malis-midfield-metronome/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aliou Dieng</a> will be among those players. Dieng, who earned 20 caps for his native Mali, is one of the continent’s best players at club and international level. The defensive midfielder is akin to a brick wall.
Another player to look out for is Namibia’s Peter Shalulile. Shalulile leads Mamelodi Sundowns’ front line in this CAF campaign. Shalulile terrorized the South African Premier League all season and will look to repeat his feats in this campaign.
<h5>Getting things started</h5>
beIN SPORTS holds the rights to broadcast the CAF Champions League in the United States. The tournament kicks off on Friday, Feb. 11, with games running into the weekend.
beIN SPORTS puts these games on its extra channels, such as beIN SPORTS Connect 2 or beIN SPORTS Connect 3. Therefore, beIN SPORTS Connect is a viable option to watch these games, as is something like <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/soccer/?irad=356358&amp;irmp=330866" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">fuboTV</a>.
Here are some of the notable games in the first matchday to get North Africa’s dominance started in the 2022 edition of the CAF Champions League. All times are U.S. Eastern Time.
Friday, Feb. 11
10:50 a.m. — Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) vs. CR Bélouizdad (Algeria) — beIN SPORTS Connect 4
1:50 a.m. — Wydad AC (Morocco) vs. GD Sagrada Esparanca (Angola) — beIN SPORTS Connect 5
Saturday, Feb. 12
7:50 a.m. — Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia) vs. Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana) — beIN SPORTS Connect 3
10:50 a.m. — Horoya AC (Guinea) vs. ES Sétif (Algeria) — beIN SPORTS Connect 3
10:50 a.m. — Zamalek (Egypt) vs. Petro Atlético (Angola) — beIN SPORTS Connect 5
Sunday Feb. 13
7:50 a.m. — Coton Sport FC (Cameroon) vs. Al Masry (Egypt) — beIN SPORTS Connect 4
10:50 a.m. — Pyramids (Egypt) vs. Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) — beIN SPORTS Connect 3
10:50 a.m. — Orlando Pirates (South Africa) vs. JS Saoura (Algeria) — beIN SPORTS Connect 4
1:50 p.m. — CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) vs. Zanaco (Zambia) — beIN SPORTS Connect 3
1:50 p.m. — RS Berkane (Morocco) vs. USGN (Niger) — beIN SPORTS Connect 4

North Africa’s dominance entering the CAF Champions League

The CAF Champions League is a dramatic tournament among the continent's best clubs, but North Africa's dominance persists entering 2022.

North Africa's dominance entering the CAF Champions League - World Soccer Talk

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