Egypt’s goalkeeper Gabaski studied Senegal’s penalty takers with notes stuck to water bottle
After 120 minutes of cagey football, the two sides could not be separated as they played out a drab goalless draw.
It then fell upon Gabaski and Chelsea No1 Edouard Mendy to step up and be the heroes for their countries.
Egyptian shot-stopper Gabaski had already helped his side win shootouts against Ivory Coast in the last 16 and .
And he was well prepared for the final, arriving with notes on his water bottle of where each Senegal player had placed their previous penalties.
The bottle, which had small images of where each player liked to put their spot kicks, was strategically placed under Gabaski's towel.
He consulted it before facing each penalty - but could only save one as Egypt were beaten 4-3 in the shootout.
Senegal keeper Mendy also only saved one but Egypt star Mohamed Abdelmonem failed to convert for the seven-time winners as he struck the inside of the post
Liverpool Star Sadio Mane stepped up to convert the winning penalty for Senegal - despite having been thwarted from the spot by Gabaski earlier on in the match.
It secured Senegal's first Africa Cup of Nations title after runners-up in 2002 and 2019.
Fellow Reds forward did not take a penalty for Egypt as he was due to go fifth, but the shootout concluded before he was needed.
Gabaski's water bottle antics are not a new phenomenon.
England keeper Jordan Pickford has also been known to consult notes on his refreshments before shootouts.
The Everton man first displayed the tactic in the Three Lions' win over Colombia at the 2018 World Cup.
And he then repeated it in the Euro 2020 final against Italy - but this time England were beaten.
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