Salah missed another penalty as Senegal beat Egypt again for a ticket to Qatar world cup
Senegal are having a fantastic year and that cannot be said any less after the Teranga Lions beat Egypt in a repeat of the 2021 Afcon finals to secure qualification to Qatar, crushing Mohammed Salah and the Pharaohs’ dreams of redemption after a failed campaign in Russia in 2018.
The first leg ended 1-0 in favour of Egypt at Cairo International Stadium last Friday courtesy of a 4th-minute own goal from Saliou Ciss. Despite efforts to equalize, the Egyptians held tight to force a win. As if destiny was what controlled the tie in Egypt, Hamdi Fathi also put through his own net with 4 minutes played.
Neither side could get another goal as the match headed for extra time. That too ended with no winner and the final decision was to be made via the penalty spot, a repeat of what happened in Cameroon in February.
Kalidou Koulibaly stepped up for Senegal’s first kick but missed and Mohammed Salah also missed Egypt’s first kick. Senegal’s second taker in Saliou Ciss also missed his as was Egypt’s Ahmed Sayed. With the score level 0-0 from the spot, Senegal found the breakthrough through Ismaila Sarr who beat El Sheneway to score the Teranga Lions’ third kick and first goal. Amr El Solia would score Egypt’s third kick before Bamba Dieng made it 2-1 for Senegal.
Sadio Mane was the case in Cameroon in the Afcon finals stepped up for Senegal’s final kick and slotted past the goalkeeper to win the tie after Mostafa Mohamed had missed the Pharaohs’ fourth kick.
Aliou Cisse men will make their third ever World Cup appearance after 2002 and 2018. They join Ghana which was the first African country to qualify after dumping Nigeria out of the race in a tight 1-1 draw in Abuja.
