AFCON Final: Who Are Mo Salah And Sadio Mane's Support Acts?

Mo Salah and Sadio Mane will dominate the headlines in the build-up to Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final but there won't be the only stars on show.

Mo Salah and Sadio Mane will dominate the headlines in the build-up to Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final.

One of those Liverpool forwards will end the weekend with their first ever international title.

Both have played major roles in their country's run to the final, each having a direct involvement in more than 50% of their teams' goals.

Mane has scored three and assisted two of Senegal's nine goals so far.

Meanwhile, Egypt's journey would have been over long ago were it not for Salah, who has scored half of their four goals, assisted another, as well as netting the winning spot-kick in a penalty-shootout win over Ivory Coast.

But neither Egypt nor Senegal are one-man teams. Below we look at four players who have been key members of their supporting casts at AFCON 2021.

Mohamed Abou Gabal (Egypt)

The Al Ahly goalkeeper warmed the bench throughout the group stage and did not get his first taste of action until the 86th minute in Egypt's round-of-16 clash with Ivory Coast. But what an impact he has made since then.

The 33-year-old saved an Eric Bailly penalty to help Egypt scrape through to the quarter-finals via a penalty shootout.

Gabal then made three saves in the last eight against Morocco, before leaving the action in the 96th minute with an injury.

He recovered in time to start the semi-final and made another hat-trick of saves to keep a clean sheet, before producing more penalty heroics.

This time he denied Harold-Desty Moukoudi and James Lea Siliki in the shootout. If the final goes all the well to penalties, you would have to fancy Egypt.

Mohamed Abou Gabal has been Egypt's penalty-shootout saviour twice :: IMAGO/Ulrik Pedersen

Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)

Of all the players at AFCON 2021, only Salah has played more minutes than Elneny.

The Arsenal midfielder has been vital to Egypt's progress, even if his contribution may have slipped under the radar.

Elneny has provided the Egyptian back line with an extra layer of protection and deserves his share of credit for their four clean sheets in six games.

His calmness in the centre of the park, where he has completed 250 passes, has also helped Egypt retain possession at crucial times.

Mohamed Elneny has been Egypt's unsung hero so far :: IMAGO/Ayman Aref

Bouna Sarr (Senegal)

The versatile Bayern Munich man has played every minute of Senegal's campaign so far.

He began the tournament in midfield but has played the last four games at right-back, where he was particularly impressive against Malawi.

If, as is expected, Sarr continues to be deployed at right-back, he will be up against Salah in the final.

Sarr will need to call upon all of his pace and experience if he is to win that battle. But if he can continue his current form it might not be an easy day for Salah either.

Bouna Sarr has been excellent at right-back for Senegal :: IMAGO/Ulrik Pedersen

Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)

Gueye is Senegal's NGolo Kante. His energy is incredible, his anticipation is world class and he very rarely has a bad game.

And that has been the case at AFCON 2021, where the PSG midfielder has run the show for Senegal in the centre of the park.

Egypt's midfielders could be susceptible to fatigue on Sunday, having played three periods of extra-time on their run to the final. That could be a big problem against Gueye, whose has the ability to turn 50-50s into 70-30s.

PSG star Idrissa Gueye has been Senegal's main man in midfield :: IMAGO/Ulrik Pedersen