At the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Senegal are just one victory away from a first trophy, after eliminating Tunisia 1-0 over the weekend. Algeria await in Friday's title match, where the Lions of Teranga hope to go one better than their 2002 final defeat against Cameroon. CGTN's Adel EL Mahrouky reports.
Senegalese fans enter with their musical instruments, ready to cheer for their national team. Little did they know that it would be a lengthy game. Statistically it was a match between two equals. Each team got a penalty kick, however none of them scored.
MOHAMED MOHAMED SENEGAL FAN "I felt like I could die when they missed the penalty kick. My heart almost stopped."
The match was decided in extra time after both teams played to a barren draw. But a Dylan Bronn own goal in the extra time gave their first AFCON final in 17 years.
MOHAMED MOHAMED "I'm very happy that we've advanced to the final. We've been waiting for this since 2002. We've always wanted to reach the AFCON's top match. But we never managed to."
Senegalese fans celebrated late into the night in the Egyptian streets, happy with their team's impressive fourth consecutive victory in the tournament, their best ever.
ADEL EL MAHROUKY CAIRO "120 minutes of non-stop cheering for their team. Senegalese fans deserve to leave the stadium joyful. The Lions of Teranga have taken them to the final and is raising their hopes to lift the trophy."
PAPA NDIAYE SENEGAL MIDFIELDER "We are not far, so now it's the last game. It will be a tough game. We will try to rest and we will try to win it."
Sunday's semi-final defeat was Tunisia's first in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
WAJDI KECHRIDA TUNISIA DEFENDER "We were not fortunate today. We've played well, we were focused, the score didn't follow us. It's a great disappointment. We have a good team, it's the youngest in the Africa Cup. We still have another, hopefully we can still do something."
The match for third place will be played on Wednesday, the Eagles of Carthage's last chance to win something from this AFCON, against the Nigerian Super Eagles. Adel EL Mahrouky, CGTN, Cairo.