Senegal completed a double when they beat hosts Algeria 5-4 on penalties after a 0-0 draw to win the African Nations Championship (CHAN) final on Saturday.

Golden Boot winner Aymen Mahious had a chance to win a competition reserved for footballers playing in their country of birth when he stepped forward to take the 10th spot-kick.

But his attempt was weak and straight at goalkeeper Pape Sy, who saved comfortably, leaving the teams deadlocked at 4-4, and necessitating a sudden-death extension to the shootout.

Ousmane Diouf calmly converted to edge Senegal ahead amid whistling from many in a sell-out 39,120 crowd at the Stade Nelson Mandela in Algiers.

Ahmed Kendouci had to score to keep Algerian hopes of victory alive, but his shot rebounded off the crossbar and Senegal were champions.

The local-based team triumphed a year after the full Senegal team, including stars like Sadio Mane, beat Egypt on penalties to win the premier competition, the Africa Cup of Nations.

It was a joyous occasion for all of west Africa as teams from the region reached five of the other six Nations Championship finals and lost them all.

This was the second final to be decided by a shootout with Libya beating Ghana on penalties after a goalless 2014 title decider in Cape Town.

Regular and extra time in a tense, physical Algiers showdown were notable for the lack of goal attempts with just four in 120 minutes, three of them from Algeria.

The attempt that came closest to breaking the deadlock was in the 107th minute when a volley from Houssem Mrezigue was brilliantly pushed over by Sy.

An unusual fact was that neither team was caught offside during the cagey 120-minute attritional battle, while each side received four yellow cards.

Morocco, the Democratic Republic of Congo (twice each), Libya and Tunisia won previous editions of the national team competition.

There was also drama in the third place playoff in the western city of Oran on Friday with a 90th-minute goal from Jean-Yves Razafindrakoto earning Madagascar a 1-0 win over Niger.

From lush rainforests to majestic mountains, Asia seems to be full of wonders. If you are an avid traveller, you may have come across scenic hills and oceans that have captured your mind. Now is the perfect time to add cherry blossoms to your list!

Cherry blossoms symbolise beauty, the fleeting nature of life, and new beginnings in most cultures, and also bring to us the start of Spring. Drown yourself in the soothing pink and white hues in these 5 must-visit places spanning the largest continent in the world!

Yoshino, Nara prefecture, Japan

A renowned spring destination for enthusiastic travellers, Yoshino is home to more than 30,000 cherry blossom trees. The picturesque views and soothing ambience will leave you enchanted.

From late March to early April, Mt. Yoshino is dressed in shades of pale pink and white with cherry blossoms surrounding the area. The best place to get a glimpse of these is from the Hanayagura Observatory, allowing you to get a panoramic view of cherry blossoms.

You will also find a lot of souvenir shops, food stalls, and restaurants in the mountainside town, giving you the best of both worlds.

Yeouido Park, Seoul, South Korea

Just like Yoshino, you can expect to see the pink and white blossoms from late March to early April. You will come across equally stunning sights along Seokchon Lake.

Here, you will find pedestrians walking amongst the soothing cherry blossoms, and food stalls lined up for you to try.

This stunning place also hosts the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival, where Koreans celebrate the blossoms of spring. You can take a walk across nearly 1600 trees with your loved ones and capture sweet memories. The best part? Admission is absolutely free!

Photo: Collected / Harry Cooke / Pexels

Gucun Forest Park, Shanghai

With over 12,000 cherry blossom trees, Gucun Forest Park is a major tourist attraction perfect for family and friends alike! There are loads of activities to engage in and flowers of all kinds to see, so you are sure to get lost in the beauty of this magnificent park.

The Cherry Blossom Festival is also held here annually, with local people and tourists from all over the world gathering to spend some quality time and welcome in the season of spring.

If you have children, there is also a 'Dinosaur World' within this park filled with large dinosaur statues, so they are sure to have loads of fun among the blooming beauty!

Pa Khoang Lake, Dien Bien, Vietnam

Immerse yourself in the dark red and pink shades of Vietnam's most beautiful cherry blossoms. During spring, thousands of cherry blossom trees can be found in a place known as the 'Island of Flowers'.

Pa Khoang Lake is a natural attraction known for its picturesque lakes, greenery and of course, cherry blossoms. Tourists flock to this area each year to catch a glimpse of these mesmerising trees, boasting deep pink-coloured petals.

Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan

Cherry blossom season here lasts from around mid-January to early April but the perfect time to catch a view of these beauties is from February to March. And what other place to get lost in the cherry blossom craze than in Yangmingshan National Park!

The best collection of cherry blossoms is found at the Flower Clock at Yangmingshan. In this famous tourist attraction, you will also encounter historic buildings, ponds, and waterfalls, along with spectacular mountain views that will make for the perfect trip and photography experience. There is also no entry fee!

Senegal forward Sadio Mane has sustained an injury to his right fibula and will miss Bayern Munich's last league game before the World Cup, his club said on Wednesday, leaving his participation at the tournament in doubt.

Mane had to leave the pitch 20 minutes into Bayern's crushing 6-1 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Tuesday and has been ruled out of Saturday's trip to Schalke 04.

Bayern added Mane will undergo further tests to determine the extent of the injury.

"Further examinations will follow in the coming days, and FC Bayern is also in contact with the medical staff of the Senegalese Football Association," the club said in a statement.

Reigning African Footballer of the Year Mane, 30, is a key player for Senegal, who will face the Netherlands in their Group A opener on Nov. 21. They will also take on Ecuador and hosts Qatar in Group A.

Mane scored the winning spot kick for Senegal as they beat Egypt on penalties to earn their first Africa Cup of Nations final in February.

Senegal manager Aliou Cisse is due to announce his World Cup squad on Friday.

Japan's government warned Wednesday against "escalation" on the Korean peninsula, after North Korea blew up sections of deeply symbolic roads and railways connecting it to the South.

"These North Korean activities could increase tensions between the South and the North, and it is important that this does not lead to an escalation," said Kazuhiko Aoki, deputy chief cabinet secretary.

The North blew up the roads and railways on Tuesday, Seoul's military said, adding it had conducted a "counter-fire" operation in response.

Pyongyang's military last week vowed to permanently seal its southern border after spending months laying mines and building anti-tank barriers in the wake of leader Kim Jong Un declaring the South his country's "principal enemy".

The North also accused Seoul of using drones to drop anti-regime propaganda leaflets on the capital Pyongyang, with Kim convening a security meeting to direct a plan of "immediate military action" in response, state media reported Tuesday.

"The government will do its utmost to collect, analyse and monitor necessary information on future developments in North Korea," Aoki told a regular briefing in Tokyo.

Croatia face France in Moscow on Sunday attempting to win their first World Cup while Didier Deschamps' side are aiming to land their second title two decades on from their triumph on home soil.

France, who are clear favourites to triumph in the Luzhniki Stadium, will also be spurred on by the bitter disappointment of losing the Euro 2016 final to Portugal in Paris.

It is a final few people anticipated when football's global showpiece kicked off four weeks ago.

Croatia have brought joy to their Balkan nation of just four million people by defying the odds to progress to the final while reigning champions Germany, then Argentina and Brazil all fell by the wayside in Russia.

They have been inspired by mercurial midfielder Luka Modric while coach Zlatko Dalic, who only took over last year with the squad in chaos, has coaxed remarkable performances from his team.

Deschamps would become only the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager -- he was captain when France lifted the World Cup in 1998.

His France side, spearheaded by 19-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe and the more seasoned Antoine Griezmann, are the favourites.

Paul Pogba has finally become a leader in midfield for France and N'Golo Kante has excelled in doing the tireless work that allows his teammates to shine, while Samuel Umtiti and Raphael Varane are the nucleus of a solid defence.

Les Bleus laboured through their group, beating Australia and Peru by the odd goal and drawing with Denmark in the only goalless game of the tournament.

Then they hit form, sweeping aside Argentina in a match which announced to the world that Mbappe is set to be an international superstar as he scored twice and outshone Lionel Messi.

But apart from that 4-3 win, France have played like a Deschamps side, with the emphasis on defence.