YAOUND, Feb 6, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Record seven-time champions Egypt
and a Senegal side who have never lifted the trophy clash in the
Africa Cup of Nations final in Yaounde on Sunday as superstar club
colleagues Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane go head to head.

     The match starts at 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) at the Olembe Stadium
in Cameroon's capital, scene of the tragic crush on January 24
which caused eight deaths and which has marred the tournament.

     For all its problems, this Cup of Nations has produced a
heavyweight showdown to decide who takes the title, with Salah and
Egypt making it to the final by ending the dream of the host
nation.

     They defeated Cameroon on penalties in the semi-finals to
stay on track for a first Cup of Nations title since winning their
third in a row in 2010.

     Having made his international debut a year after that, the
29-year-old Salah has never won the Cup of Nations but along with
Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny is one of a handful of survivors
from the Pharaohs team beaten in the 2017 final by Cameroon.

     "I won the Champions League which was a great feeling, and I
won the Premier League after 30 years with my club. I won in
Switzerland, I won everywhere, and also I want to have that
feeling of winning my first trophy with my country," he said at a
press conference on Saturday.

     Senegal might lead the way for Africa in the FIFA rankings
but there is pressure on them to at last win a first Cup of
Nations crown, two and a half years after losing the final to
Algeria in Cairo.

     The Lions of Teranga -- who will also play Egypt in a
decisive World Cup qualifying play-off in March -- lost the 2002
final on penalties to Cameroon, when their current coach Aliou
Cisse was the team captain.

     "All of that is in the past," said Cisse, who was also in
charge in 2019.

     "We have a different squad that is even better than 2002 and
better than 2019.

     "We will try to make sure we don't make the same mistakes as
in these finals, and we are very excited to have the chance to put
the past behind us."

     - 'Two great players' -

     Mane has helped drag Senegal to a second consecutive final,
scoring three times including once in the semi-finals when he also
set up a goal in the 3-1 defeat of Burkina Faso.

     However, Cisse has a squad full of stars based at leading
clubs in Europe and he suggested too much emphasis was being
placed on Mane and Salah.

     "They are two great African players so of course there is
going to be the comparison between them," he said.

     "We try to build a team around our best players and Sadio
Mane is one of them.

     "We need to find a way of getting the best out of him and
also try to diminish Salah's room for manoeuvre, although the most
important thing is not necessarily that Sadio shines but rather
that the whole team shines."

     - Queiroz suspended -

     Carlos Queiroz's Egypt must fight off the fatigue accumulated
after going to extra time in all three knockout ties so far, and
twice needing penalty shoot-outs.

     That is why one member of their coaching staff cheekily
suggested that the final should be delayed until Monday, although
Salah insisted that adrenaline will get his team through the
occasion.

     "It's a final. No-one will think about being tired," he said.

     "If we think about being tired we will remember the people in
Egypt and think about making them happy."

     Egypt will be without veteran Portuguese coach Queiroz on the
touchline as he is banned after being shown a red card in the
semi-final. Right-back Omar Kamal is suspended too.

     The final will be attended by Cameroon's President Paul Biya,
who turns 89 later this month.

     Senegal's President, Macky Sall, is also expected at the game
along with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Confederation of
African Football boss Patrice Motsepe.