Senegal vs Egypt
It’s a repeat of last month’s Africa Cup of Nations final – a match which went the distance as Senegal triumphed over Egypt in a penalty shoot-out.
Now the stage is just as big, in fact, arguably even more important as the two nations go head-to-head in a play-off to reach Qatar, just 51 days after their dramatic Afcon final.
Of course, this is the second leg and Egypt already have the advantage in World Cup 2022 qualifying.
What some of the English media are billing as a showdown between two Liverpool team-mates Mo Salah (Egypt) and Sadio Mane (Senegal) did not seem as if it would materialise after the former – the undoubted talisman for the Pharaohs – was supposedly ruled out through injury.
However, Salah is fit to play, and with the national team coached by ex-Manchester United man Carlos Queiroz, someone who has proven himself to be one of the game’s best over the past two decades, perhaps the tide is going to turn.
Talking Points
After the first leg of World Cup 2022 highlights, Egypt certainly have the edge courtesy of an early goal.
Indeed, only four minutes were on the clock when Salah pounced on some slow Senegal defending and saw an effort hit the crossbar before it bounced down and into the back of Senegal net off Saliou Cisse.
It proved to be the only goal of the contest in front of a capacity 75,000 crowd at the Cairo International Stadium where Senegal proved more enterprising and may still feel confident about winning the tie on aggregate and advancing to the World Cup in Qatar.
On the injury front, Egypt will be without the services of Ahmed Hegazi and Akram Tawfik, who have been out of action since the Africa Cup of Nations, while Ramadan Sobhi and Mohamed Hany continue their journey to full fitness.
There’s no such problem for Senegal, who had their defence to thank for their stellar performance at Afcon in Cameroon and should see a similar back centre-back pairing of Kalidou Koulibaly and Abdou Diallo shielding Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy in goal.
Many will say Egypt are looking to exact revenge, although Queiroz says it’s not about revenge but the need to be humble and fully focused in order to achieve the ‘Egyptian Dream’.
It would be some achievement for if Egypt are to reach the promised land – the pinnacle of the international stage – it would be the first time they have done so for successive tournaments.
Meanwhile, his counterpart, Senegal national team manager, Aliou Cisse, believes his team has improved since Afcon and beating the Pharaohs in the final of that competition has not reduced their motivation to qualify for the World Cup.
It could prove to be a tense evening in the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio.
History
Senegal have the better form over the past 11 games, winning six and drawing four, while the Pharaohs have won five, drawn four and lost two. Egypt are unbeaten in the last seven, though, with four wins and three 0-0 stalemates after extra time at Afcon.
Overall, Egypt have defeated Senegal seven times, who have won five meetings, while there have been a further two draws.
Until Friday’s first leg, their last victory over Senegal actually came in 2006 in an Afcon semi-final when Ahmed Hassan and Amr Zaki scored the goals in a 2-1 Egyptian success.Mamadou Niang replied for Senegal.
All of their clashes have come since 1986 and all bar one – a 2003 friendly when ex-Spurs man Mido scored the only goal for Egypt – have been competitive encounters.
Betting Tip
At the time of writing, the SBOTOP World Cup 2022 betting odds are yet to be posted but don’t forget to consider the array of options ahead of what should be a tight and tense contest.
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