Jamie Carragher Hits Out At 'Madness' Decision In Senegal's AFCON Penalty Shootout Win Over Egypt

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has insisted that Mohamed Salah not taking a penalty for Egypt in a shootout is “madness” after Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph.

Salah’s Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane expertly converted the winning penalty to secure a 4-2 shootout win for Senegal in the final of AFCON on Sunday.

Ahmed Sayed, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Marwan Hamdi and Mohanad Lasheen all stepped up for Egypt in the shootout, with Salah not taking a spot-kick.

Carragher has insisted that a team’s best penalty kick taker “should never” take the No 5 spot in the shootout.

And the Sky Sports pundit also pointed to how Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t take a penalty in Portugal’s shootout defeat to Spain in the semi-finals of Euro 2012.

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“That is why your best penalty taker should never go fifth,” Carragher tweeted.

“Mo Salah not taking a penalty for Egypt in a shootout in a final is madness. Also happened to Ronaldo years ago for Portugal v Spain.”

That is why your best penalty taker should never go fifth. Mo Salah not taking a penalty for Egypt in a shootout in a final is madness. Also happened to Ronaldo years ago for Portugal v Spain. #AFCON2021 #SENEGY

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) February 6, 2022

Carragher followed up his initial tweet by blasting the “stupid” decision of when a team that wins the coin toss lets their opponents take the first penalty in a shootout.

The ex-England defender pointed to how Manchester United won the coin toss and went second in their shock penalty shootout defeat to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.

Another thing that’s stupid in shootouts, teams who win the toss & let the opposition take the first penalty 🥴 commentator said this happened Friday in #MUNMID 🤷‍♂️ https://t.co/zhSR7LfkIu

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) February 6, 2022

“Another thing that’s stupid in shootouts, teams who win the toss [and] let the opposition take the first penalty. Commentator said this happened Friday in [United vs Middlesbrough],” Carragher tweeted.

Mane saw his spot-kick effort in the opening 10 minutes denied by Gabaski, but the Liverpool winger remained composed as he dispatched the crucial penalty in the shootout.

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Senegal secured their first AFCON title at the Paul Biya Stadium in Cameroon, with manager Aliou Cisse admitting he was “very emotional” by his side’s sensational win.

“It just shows that if you work hard, if you persevere, you will get what you want,” he said.

“I am very emotional because the people of Senegal have wanted this trophy for 60 years.”