Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Three

You never get the chance to see these two go head to head. You know how much it means for them. This should be a great game.

Yaya Toure
Former Man City midfielder on BBC Three

I always have the thought to play for your country is so special. My mind is turning because I am just remembering, I saw the clips and saw 2015 and it was so emotional.

I know Salah and Mane and they are fantastic, they both deserve it but only one can win.

Which Liverpool forward do you think will be lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy tonight?

Thumbs up for Sadio Mane, thumbs down for Mohamed Salah.

Image source, .

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have combined many times at club level and both have been among the goals at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mane has scored three goals and provided one assist in his six games so far, while Salah has two goals and an assist.

No doubt both will be key to tonight, but will tiredness also play a part? All three of Egypt's knockout games went to extra time.

BBC iPlayer

Build up is live now at the top of this page and on BBC iPlayer. Tune in!

Nick Cavell
BBC Africa Sport in Olembe Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Quite a spectacular show ahead of this final the singing continued with Daphne and Stanely Enow and finished with a spectaular firework and light show in and around the stadium.

Now let the football begin!

John Bennett
BBC World Service Sport

The Gambia’s incredible run to the quarter-finals was a real highlight for me. We should’ve known they would be competitive here in Cameroon because they’d finished top of their qualifying group, but they still caught many people by surprise.

The players are a mix of top-tier talent and lower league journeymen, but their charismatic coach Tom Saintfiet got the best out of them by stressing the importance of the team unit over any individuals. To win three of their five games after starting in a tough group is a great achievement.

At the other end of the spectrum my highlight is watching the stars of the show Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah deliver moments of huge quality when it really mattered.

Mane inspired Senegal to victory with a goal and a brilliant assist in the semi-final win over Burkina Faso. Salah had a frustrating Nations Cup at times but he burst into life in the last-eight win over Morocco to burst down the wing and set up Trezeguet’s winner.

Geniuses at work in key moments for their nations.

Piers Edwards
BBC Africa Sport

The last-16 match between debutants Comoros and Cameroon was extraordinary as the islanders took on the host nation with no recognised goalkeeper (because of injuries, Covid and tournament rules), no coach (Covid) and, after seven minutes, no captain (red card).

They went 2-0 down in the second half, but nonetheless they took the game to the free-scoring Indomitable Lions.

Comoros were rewarded late on when Youssouf M’Changama scored a stunning Ronaldoesque free-kick – lashing home from 35 yards, the ball barely twitching in the air as it tore into the top left-hand corner to leave Cameroon keeper Andre Onana, who’d been in fine form, helpless.

Simply stunning.

Nick Cavell
BBC Africa Sport in Cameroon

My moment of Afcon is one of incredible mixed feelings – the goal scored Malawi’s Gabadinho Mhango against Morocco in the last 16.

I was sat almost directly behind him as he lined up the shot from 35 metres out – my immediate thought was “yeah right mate, against a top-class goalkeeper...”. I’m not sure I even finished that thought before he curled it over the defence and the keeper into the top right-hand corner.

One of those moments where even as a journalist you find yourself standing up to applaud a moment of excellence.

Unfortunately the moment was also overshadowed by sadness as it happened a little over 24 hours after eight people lost their lives in the crush at the Olembe Stadium.

I had spent the earlier part of the day reporting on those awful events but that one moment of brilliance from Mhango brought a smile to a face and reminded what football should be all about.

Ian Williams
BBC Sport Africa in Cameroon

Image source, Getty Images

The fans - and in particular their crazy get-ups - are an integral part of the Cup of Nations.

Ahead of their semi-final, I went to visit Burkina Faso's Stallion Supporters Union outside their hotel in Yaounde.

They were holding what they described as a "training session". Essentially, about 50 fans came out and stood by the side of the road playing their horns and drums. Other fans practised their synchronised arm waves.

The union has been going for more than 20 years, witnessing their country's most successful period of Afcon history, including their runners-up spot in 2013.

Whether or not the man in the luminous green glasses I met has been wearing his pink body paint continuously since that point I do not know.

Rob Stevens
BBC Sport Africa

Image source, Getty Images

Comoros’ 3-2 win over four-time champions Ghana was an incredible game to cover, with both sides needing a win to get out of Group C.

The debutants went ahead early on with their first-ever goal at the Nations Cup, and then the West Africans had captain Andre Ayew sent off.

The Islanders took a 2-0 lead just after the hour mark but then Ghana fought back to level 2-2.

But Ahmed Mogni netted the winner with five minutes left to spark incredible celebrations as Comoros pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the history of the tournament.

Continental heavyweights Ghana were left to deal with the fall-out of a humiliating exit, and sacked coach Milovan Rajevac days later.

Victoire Eyoum
BBC Sport Africa in Cameroon

As a woman of Cameroonian descent, I was hoping to see the Indomitable Lions win the trophy on home soil - but this dream was crushed by Egypt in a cruel penalty shoot-out.

So, my moment of the tournament is unquestionably Vincent Aboubakar's 87th-minute equaliser against Burkina Faso in the third-placed play-off.

WHAT A MOMENT!!! I couldn't believe it. Cameroon were 3-0 down with less than 20 minutes left to play. Some spectators had left the stadium. It was so disappointing to see the Lions like this and sad to imagine such an end to their tournament.

But these Lions showed resilience, persistence, and passion, and somehow came back to equalise.

Image source, Getty Images

I couldn't contain myself and shouted out loud (yes, in the media tribune), applauding them very strongly. The crowd went wild.

But then, we knew... came penalties... The very same exercise that had crushed our dream of a sixth Nations Cup title. But unlike against Egypt, the Lions roared.

They missed three against Egypt, but missed none against Burkina Faso, and André Onana who had a tough game stopped one. What a game! What a team!

Right, as we build up to tonight's final, my colleagues who have been covering every step of the Africa Cup of Nations have been giving their moments of the tournament...

Nick Cavell
BBC Africa Sport in Olembe Stadium

So our closing ceremony started with South African singer, Nomceba Zikode soon after that the MC was drowned out by shouts of 'Eto'o, Eto'o, Eto'o' as the crowd hailed the former Barcelona star who is now the president of Cameroon Football Federation.

The fireworks also went down well with the crowd before the music continued with James BKS, who as the sang bracelets handed out to the fans flashed away. He was then followed by another Cameroonian favourite Salatiel.

We are promised more singing before we get to the main event!

BBC Three

You can watch the final live on BBC Three, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app (UK only).

There's also BBC World Service commentary while I'll be writing some words about what is happening right here.

Nick Cavell
BBC Africa Sport in Olembe Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

An hour-and-a-half before the kick off the President of Cameroon Paul Biya and the first lady Chantelle arrived at the stadium and after the national anthem was sung the pair were driven around the stadium.

They were cheered all the way round and waved from their open top limousine.

They then took their seats next to Caf President Patrice Motsepe and his Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello!

In just under one hour's time the Africa Cup of Nations final gets under way.

It has, understandably been billed as Mane v Salah but the game will of course be about much more than just two players.

This is Senegal looking for a first-ever Nations Cup title against an Egypt side looking to rekindle past glories and claim a record-extending eighth title.

Everything to play for.

Image source, .

The Africa Cup of Nations final.

It is Senegal versus Egypt, Sadio Mane versus Mohamed Salah.

The Liverpool pair are one of the most exciting attacking duos in world football and now we get the chance to see them up against each other.

It is a brilliant match up for what promises to be a thrilling finale.