Egypt goalkeepeer reveals how Sadio Mane tried to trick him during AFCON final

Egypt goalkeepeer reveals how Sadio Mane tried to trick him during AFCON final

Rene Otinga
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:55 PM
  • The Egypt goalkeeper revealed Sadio Mane tried to trick him during the Africa Cup of Nations final
  • Senegal got a penalty in the first half of normal time, and Mane stepped up to take it but his kick was saved by Gabaski
  • Gabaski disclosed in an interview that Salah correctly predicted where Mane would try to bury his penalty, but the Senegalese tried to confuse him
  • The Lions of Teranga eventually won the AFCON title via a penalty shootout which Mane scored the winning spot-kick

Egypt goalkeeper Gabaski has finally disclosed the conversation that went down during the Africa Cup of Nations final involving himself, Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah.

Senegal emerged winners of the competition, although they had to do it via a penalty shootout after 120 minutes ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

Mane, Salah
There were some interesting mind games that played out in full glare of the cameras during the AFCON final on Sunday, involving club team mates Mo Salah and Sadio Mane. Photo: Getty.
Source: Getty Images

Sadio Mane got the winning penalty in the shootout, while Mohammed Salah did not get the chance to strike from 12 yards as Egypt missed two of their four spot-kicks.

Mane was presumably relieved after scoring the winning penalty, especially because he had missed one in the first half of normal time.

In the build-up to that penalty, there were some interesting scenes as Mohammed Salah had a brief exchange with the goalkeeper Gabaski before Mane took his penalty.

Mane also briefly seemed to join in the conversation before eventually going on to see his penalty saved by the Egypt goalkeeper, who has been remarkable throughout the tournament.

“To the right”

Days after the final and Gabaski has finally revealed what went down during that conversation.

As expected, the keeper revealed that Salah, who is all too familiar with Mane’s technique from their Liverpool times together, told him where the Senegalese would place his penalty.

Seemingly a bit paranoid from the conversation between the two Egyptians, Mane tried to cause confusion by chiming in to say he would hit it in the opposite direction.

“Salah told me: ‘Mane would shoot to the right side, he is coming now because he knows what I am saying’ the keeper told MBC Egypt, per Yallakora .
“Mane said to me: ‘I will shoot on the left,’ then Salah replied: 'Let's see’.”

Salah ready for Liverpool return

It is yet to be confirmed when Mane will make a return to Liverpool, but Mohammed Salah is ready for Premier League action.

Salah is expected to travel back to England on Tuesday, February 8, just in time for Liverpool’s game against Leicester City slated for Thursday.

The Reds then have a tricky fixture against Burnley three days later.

Gabaski's water bottle

As Sports Brief reported, Gabaski was clearly not willing to take any chances, just in case the game went to penalties.

This was evident from the water bottle he used during the AFCON final, which contained a detailed account of Senegal’s penalty takers and their preferred sides for penalties.

Gabaski also warned their World Cup playoff opponents, Senegal, that the Pharaohs "never stay down for long."

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Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.
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