EGYPT and Senegal meet in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final in what is a clash between two of the continent’s outstanding players and their nation’s contrasting squads.

The Senegal group is made up of players who all play their club football in the Uefa region. The majority are aged between 25 and 32, and only two are under 23. It’s a squad primed to win their nation’s first-ever Afcon trophy.

Egypt, on the other hand, have only six players who play for clubs outside their country. Furthermore, 20 of their 28-man squad ply their trade in the capital, Cairo.

This is not a weakness, however — far from it. Egypt are the most successful team in Afcon history having won the tournament seven times.

On each occasion they have done so with a squad made up primarily of domestic-based players.

Away from the usual capitalist rankings of football clubs based largely on revenue and often inaccurate or meaningless marketing metrics, Cairo-based sides Al-Ahly and Zamalek are two of the biggest clubs in the world.

They also boast millions of followers on social media, but would rather point to their passionate fanbases, long lists of domestic and continental titles, and legendary players such as Essam El Hadary, Mohamed Aboutrika and Abdel Halim Ali.

Former Al Ahly player, the late Mahmoud El-Gohary, won Afcon as a player with Egypt in 1959, lifting the trophy again as a manager in 1998. Former Zamalek player Hassan Shehata was coach of Egypt for their three consecutive Afcon wins between 2006 and 2010.

The strength of their clubs and league on the African continent, and their history of success, has contributed to Egypt’s Afcon titles and it’s no surprise another such squad of players has reached the final again.

It helps that one of their few non-domestic-based players just happens to be one widely considered to be the best in the world at this moment in time.

The stage is set for this to be Mohamed Salah’s tournament — the moment the Liverpool forward wins his first Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, secures his legendary status alongside the likes of Aboutrika and El Hadary, and further strengthens his case for winning the Ballon d’Or in 2022.

But this tournament could yet belong to Sadio Mane. Another Liverpool player who can be the difference-maker for his national team, and already has been on occasions throughout this competition.

An upcoming World Cup qualifier between the two sides across two legs in March adds a further dynamic to this final.

The winner of that tie will qualify for the World Cup, meaning one of Salah or Mane will miss out on Qatar 2022. The winner of this final will take the Afcon glory so desired by the players on both sides.

There is plenty at stake, and both star players have had their standout moments in Cameroon.

Salah shone in the quarter-final against Morocco. He was in the right place at the right time, showing the instinct of a striker, to score the equaliser after Morocco had taken an early lead via a Soufiane Boufal penalty.

Then his most impressive moment of the tournament so far came in the shape of an assist for Aston Villa winger Trezeguet to win that game in extra time.

Despite the presence of Salah and his occasional flashes of brilliance, much of Egypt’s progress has been built on a solid defence and the organisation instilled by their manager, former Manchester United assistant boss Carlos Quieroz.

Centre-back Mohamed Abdelmonem, who was on loan from Al-Ahly at Future FC as the tournament started, and left-back Ahmed Fattouh of Zamalek, both 23 years old, have stood out.

So much so that 2021 African Champions League winners Al-Ahly swiftly recalled Abdelmonem from his loan last week.

Senegal’s defence hasn’t been too bad either. It had to be as they only scored once in the group stage — a Sadio Mane penalty against Zimbabwe in the 97th minute of their opening game which was enough to see them top the group after 0-0 draws against Guinea and Malawi.

They have gone on to be the highest-scoring team in the knockout stages, scoring two against Cape Verde and three against both Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso.

Mane has been the standout player, contributing to goals in each of their knockout games, scoring three himself throughout the tournament and assisting goals against Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso.

The 29-year-old is everything from a playmaker to a centre-forward for the team nicknamed The Lions of Teranga.

Senegal’s defensive record is as good as Egypt’s having only conceded twice so far. They had kept clean sheets in every game until Jnnick Buyla’s goal against them in the quarter-final.

While Senegal have been among the goals, Egypt's low-scoring performances have underwhelmed many, but they have had a difficult run to the final.

They opened the tournament with a loss to a strong Nigeria side in the group stage, and after qualifying for the knockout rounds thanks to goals from Salah and Abdelmonem against Guinea-Bissau and Sudan respectively, they’ve had to face Ivory Coast, Morocco, and hosts Cameroon — three African heavyweights.

Each of those games went to extra time, and penalties were needed to get past Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

Salah scored the winner in the first of those shootouts while against the hosts, goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal saved two as Zizou, Abdelmonem, and Mohanad Lasheen dispatched Egypt’s own spot-kicks with aplomb.

As Lasheen scored, Ramadan Sobhi, who had been stood next to Salah as the players watched from the halfway line, lifted his captain off the ground in celebration, anticipating another winning penalty from their main man.

But Clinton N’Jie’s subsequent miss for Cameroon meant only three penalties were needed to see Egypt through to the final and Salah didn’t need to step up on this occasion.

It was a metaphor for the semi-final as a whole. It was a team effort from Egypt as they kept the tournament’s top scorers Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi at bay.

They were able to do so without usual starters centre back Ahmed Hegazi and goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.

Abdelmonem’s ability to step up in defence throughout the 120 minutes and then coolly dispatch a penalty in the shootout will have caught the eye of the European-based scouts at this tournament.

Egypt coach Quieroz could be missing from the touchline for Sunday’s final after being sent off for continually remonstrating with referee Bakary Gassama throughout the game against Cameroon.

Senegal’s coach, the former PSG, Birmingham City, and Portsmouth player Aliou Cisse, has impressed with the way he has set up his team at this tournament.

He will be hoping they have enough to stop Salah at one end of the pitch while being able to get the most from Mane at the other.

It’s all set up to be a fascinating final with storylines abound. Senegal’s Europe-based stars are the favourites, but Egypt’s domestic-heavy squad are not to be underestimated.