The 2021 AFCON has come to life after a slow start that was marked by low scoring games and cautious approaches by the participating teams. The excitement and entertainment levels have gone up and it is living to the billing of the bonanza it was expected to be. All this in spite of the Covid menace. 

The 33^rd edition of the competition, just like it has been in earlier ones, has had surprise teams qualifying and going on to shock the heavyweights. Surprise results have already been witnessed at the 2021 competition with the underdogs turning tables on the favourites, in results that have gone on to upset the betting odds on Wincomparator, pushing up the entertainment levels. 

Here we look at some of the biggest upsets that have been witnessed at the AFCON competitions over the years. 

South Africa 1996

South Africa may have dropped in the rankings and magnitude in African football, but it hasn't always been the case. There's a time they ruled the continent, and it was on a very unlikely background. Just admitted into international football a few years earlier, South Africa got the rights to host the 1996 finals. That was just two years after their independence and still struggling to deal with the big scars of apartheid and division. They however rode through a wave of patriotism to clinch the title, beating Tunisia 2-0 in the final to set up one of the biggest upsets in international football. 

Angola 2010

 The 27th edition of the AFCON competition was held in Angola and could be remembered for some of the worst non-footballing memories. In the run to the tournament, Togo, one of the participating nations had to withdraw after their bus was attacked by bandits and members of their entourage killed. On the pitch though, there was one big upset in Group A, when a less fancied Malawi thrashed World Cup bound Algeria 3-0 in the two nations' opening game at the 11^th November Stadium in Luanda. Algeria would still advance to the quarter finals though, as Malawi finished last in the group. 

Read also: Africa Cup Of Nations 2021: 6 People Dead After The Match At Olembe Stadium 

Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 2012

 For only the second time in AFCON history, the competition was jointly hosted in 2012, as Gabon and Equatorial Guinea teamed up. The spectacle in this tournament was that another unfancied team went on to list the title – Zambia. Paying homage to the country's fallen heroes in the 1993 plane crash was the biggest news that Zambia would take to the competition, but they grew steadily with great teamwork. In the semifinal, they gave the biggest indication yet of their ambitions by beating an Asamoah Gyan-inspired Ghana. They went on to face Didier Drogba and his star-studded Ivory Coast side in the final and pushed it all the way to extra time, before winning on penalties in one of the greatest showcases of African football. 

South Africa 2013

 For the second time, South Africa got the rights to host the AFCON finals, in 2013. This time though, they were way past their golden years and it was Burkina Faso who stole the thunder at the competition. Underdogs going into the competition, Burkina Faso finished top in a group that had defending champions Zambia, former champions Nigeria and Guinea. At the semis, they were expected to see the end of the road after drawing Ghana but in one eventful game, they were denied two penalties, had a goal disallowed and star player John Pitroipa sent off, wrongfully. They would also concede a penalty and Ghana scored, but Aristide Bance levelled to send the game to penalties, which Burkina Faso won. Their fairy tale would however be stopped in the final as they lost 1-0 to Nigeria but they already had the accolade for the biggest surprise of the tournament. 

The start of the year 2022 and the close of the year 2021 were highlighted by a push and pull over the timing of the 2021 AFCON finals from January 9 – 6 February. Most of the resistance regarding this timing came from the Premier League. 

Some clubs went to the extent of trying to hold on to their key players at the expense of their national teams and it took FIFA's intervention to see them released for the tournament. At the end of the tournament, it is clear why there was this resistance. 

With the dust settling on the 33^rd edition of the AFCON competition, a number of the top moments at the competition were served by Premier League players and it is no wonder in the official team of the tournament released by CAF, five of the 11 players are drawn from Premier League clubs. 

Read Also: AFCON 2021: Sadio Mane becomes Senegal's joint top scorer

It is worth noting that 34 players contracted to Premier League clubs were drafted to play in the tournament by their various national teams and among the 11 named in the team of the tournament, five played in the final as Senegal beat Egypt on post match penalties to win their maiden AFCON title. 

The AFCON team of the Tournament has:  Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Mohamed Abdelmonem, Edmund Tapsoba, Saliou Ciss, Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City), Blaty Toure, Mo Salah (Liverpool), Vincent Aboubakar, Sadio Mane (Liverpool). 

Read Also: The biggest AFCON upsets in recent times 

Edouard Mendy's inclusion is not at all a surprise and makes up for his miss in 2019 final as he nursed an injury. His start to this competition was also not the smoothest, as he had to sit out the opening two matches having tested positive for Covid 19. In the five matches that Mendy featured in, Senegal only conceded two goals and he was crucial in the final too, with his penalty save that placed Senegal at an advantage against Egypt. 

Mohamed Elneny was another star performer at the competition and also stood out among the Premier League players who turned out for their nations. The 29-year old played all seven matches at the tournament as his team coasted to the final. Clocking 704 minutes, the midfielder was a cog in the team's central department but was subbed twice. 

Read Also: AFCON 2021: Senegal wins their maiden title

Elneny hasn't been a regular starter at Arsenal and as his contract draws to a close, maybe he just made it clear to potential suitors just what he can do if given game time. 

One big breakout star of the tournament has to be Nampalys Mendy. Rarely used by Leicester City, the midfielder made five starts for Senegal and was rock solid in midfield. He may just have given Brendan Rodgers a reason to trust him more, at a time his team is really struggling to match previous standards. Leicester have done poorly in defence this season and it is unimaginable that Mendy hasn't featured in the Premier League so far, though injuries have also played a part. 

From the foregoing at AFCON, Premier League fans have a reason to look forward to more entertaining times, apart from the list of online bookmakers on Wincomparator, which offer some of the best welcome bonuses for signing up. Top among them is 1XBet with an offer of up to $130, ShangriLa's offer of up to €100, 22Bet's €122 and Betsson's €125. 

Liverpool's Mo Salah was indeed a key man for Egypt, even though the tournament didn't end too well for him. His wait for an AFCON title will go on for a little longer after Egypt's loss to Cameroon. 

While Salah finished the tournament in tears, his team mate at Liverpool, Sadio Mane was celebrating after dispatching the winning spot-kick on a night that he had also missed one in regular time.

Senegal wrote history last night by beating Salah's Egypt and emerging victorious in AFCON 2021 for the first time. Senegal defeated Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after they finished the decider goalless even at the end of extra time.

Read also: Robert Lewandowski: "FIFA award does matter more than Ballon d'Or"

Sadio Mane scored the winning goal last night. He might have missed the spot in normal time but ended up netting the penalty. Both Senegal and Egypt were goalless at the end of extra time and scored everything during the penalty shoot-out. After the last 2 defeats, Senegal finally became the winner of AFCON 2021. On the other hand, Egypt failed to continue the record 8th continental win. Fans were expecting a different result and this win could also have been the first of the Liverpool star.

Read also: Qatar World Cup Qualifiers: Teams that qualified already

Mane was clearly the star of the night and seeing him changing his fate overnight and clinching the title for the team, Salah was in tears at the end. Salah also could not win the 2017 final to Cameroon.

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse told broadcaster beIN Sports, "It just shows that if you work hard, if you persevere, you will get what you want. I am very emotional because the people of Senegal have wanted this trophy for 60 years."

The man of the match, Abou Gabal said, "We are really disappointed but that's football, either you win or you lose."

After the long weeks of group stages and knockout phases, the AFCON 2021 has come to its conclusion. The two best and most expected teams have come up the ranks and now we await the final showdown between Sadio Mane's Senegal and Mohamed Salah's Egypt. In the AFCON 2021 Final, the two Liverpool wingers are now facing each other on 7th February 2021.

Where to Watch the AFCON 2021 Final in India?

The AFCON 2021 Final in India will be shown via live telecast on YouTube. It will also be live on beIN Sports in the US and fuboTV. In the UK it is Sky Sports and BBC Network.

Venue- Paul Biya Stadium, Olembe.
Date and Time- 7th February, 12:30 AM in India

Senegal vs Egypt: Head-to-Head

Matches- 12
Egypt- 6
Senegal- 4
Draw- 2

Senegal vs Egypt: Road to Final

Group Stages:

Egypt: 0-1 Loss vs Nigeria, 1-0 Win vs Guinea-Bissau, 1-0 Win vs Sudan

Senegal: 1-0 Loss vs Zimbabwe, 0-0 Draw vs Guinea, 0-0 Draw vs Malawi

Round of 16:

Senegal: 2-0 Win vs Cape Verde

Egypt: 0-0 (5-4 Win on Penalties) Win vs Ivory Coast

Quarter-Finals:

Senegal: 3-1 Win vs Equatorial Guinea

Egypt: 2-1 (Win on Extra Time) vs Morocco

Semi-Finals:

Senegal: 3-1 Win vs Burkina Faso
Egypt: 0-0 (3-1 Win on Penalties) Win vs Cameroon

After the long weeks of group stages and knockout phases, the AFCON 2021 has come to its conclusion. The two best and most expected teams have come up the ranks and now we await the final showdown between Sadio Mane's Senegal and Mohamed Salah's Egypt. In the AFCON 2021 Final, the two Liverpool wingers are now facing each other on 7th February 2021.

Where to Watch the AFCON 2021 Final in India?

The AFCON 2021 Final in India will be shown via live telecast on YouTube. It will also be live on beIN Sports in the US and fuboTV. In the UK it is Sky Sports and BBC Network.

Venue- Paul Biya Stadium, Olembe.
Date and Time- 7th February, 12:30 AM in India

Senegal vs Egypt: Head-to-Head

Matches- 12
Egypt- 6
Senegal- 4
Draw- 2

Senegal vs Egypt: Road to Final

Group Stages:

Egypt: 0-1 Loss vs Nigeria, 1-0 Win vs Guinea-Bissau, 1-0 Win vs Sudan

Senegal: 1-0 Loss vs Zimbabwe, 0-0 Draw vs Guinea, 0-0 Draw vs Malawi

Round of 16:

Senegal: 2-0 Win vs Cape Verde

Egypt: 0-0 (5-4 Win on Penalties) Win vs Ivory Coast

Quarter-Finals:

Senegal: 3-1 Win vs Equatorial Guinea

Egypt: 2-1 (Win on Extra Time) vs Morocco

Semi-Finals:

Senegal: 3-1 Win vs Burkina Faso
Egypt: 0-0 (3-1 Win on Penalties) Win vs Cameroon

Senegal is through the round of 16 in this year's AFCON 2021 tournament after beating Cape Verde. Sadio Mane's only goal was the one that made the difference and set Senegal forward into the Quarterfinals.

However, before the Brilliant header from Mane, he was involved in a collision with the Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar Dias in the 52nd minute of the game and was sent off as a result.

Surprisingly, The Liverpool forward was allowed to stay on the field and scored a beautiful goal in the 63rd minute; Before finally being replaced a few minutes later as Senegal went on to win the game 2-0 and reach the quarter-finals.

AFCON 2021: The Collision incident

As the match progressed Senegal was showing real composure and was having the upper hand throughout the game. But in the 53rd minute of the match, the Senegalese striker and the Cape Verde goalkeeper got involved in a collision. The situation arose when Mane started to chase the clearance from the Senegal defenders. 

Moreover, Mane reached their first, but a poor judgment from the keeper resulted in the collision. In the reply, it was showing that Sadio Mane was laying unconscious.

Josimar was sent off as a result of a lengthy VAR check; leaving Cape Verde down to nine men after Patrick Andrade was dismissed in the first half.

The Brilliant Goal

The injured Liverpool winger was the one who found the opener for Senegal in the 63rd minute of the match. Mane had the time and space to pick his spot and place a wonderful shot off the underside of the crossbar.

However, he was soon substituted during the 70th-minute mark because of his concussion injury.

Bamba Dieng ensured the win for Senegal by netting their second in stoppage time. But there are serious concerns over star man Mane will continue.