Egypt claimed a 1-0 victory over Senegal in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification third-round, first-leg match at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday night.
Therefore, the Pharaohs will carry the 1-0 aggregate lead into the second-leg match in Senegal on Tuesday and Senegal’s Teranga Lions will be keen to overturn the deficit in order to qualify for the World Cup finals in Qatar.
Egypt went ahead on the fourth minute through an own goal through Saliou Ciss. A chipped pass from Amr El-Sulaya was flicked by Mostafa Mohamed to the unmarked Salah, who sent a close-range shot that hit the bar before rebounding off Ciss and into the net.
Senegal created their first decent opening in the 15th minute when Bounna Sarr failed to clear a deep free-kick into the box which resulted in a goalmouth scramble.
Sadio Mane latched onto the initial loose ball, but saw his effort blocked on the line by a defender. The ricochet fell to Abdou Diallo but his shot from six-yards out was smashed against the crossbar.
In the 35th minute some more poor defending at a set-piece by Senegal afforded Egypt a clear chance to extend the lead.
Hamdi Fathi met a corner with a strong header, but saw his effort well-saved. The loose ball, however, fell to Mostapha Mohamed, but his shot from close range was blocked on the line by a Senegal player.
Nine minutes later Mohamed El-Shenawy was at his best for Egypt between the sticks with an acrobatic save to brilliantly deny Mane from 24-yards out.
Egypt should really have extended their lead in first half injury time when an initial 22-yard free-kick from Mohamed Elneny was well-saved by the keeper. The keeper, though parried the effort straight into the path of Mohamed Salah, but he shot wide from close range.
Senegal did not offer much in attack either in the second 45 which made for a rather dull half.
Probably the most exciting moment of the half came in the 68th minute when miss-communication between the Egypt defence and their goalkeeper saw the ball inching towards the goalline after a Mane through ball, but it was eventually hacked clear.
Ismailia Sarr then came so close to equalising the score in the 78th minute as he found space on the right-hand side for Senegal, but his shot was turned behind by Mohamed El-Shennawy.
Salah could have made it 2-0 five minutes after the break but sent his header wide with the goalkeeper stranded.
With Senegal failing to be clinical with their chances, Egypt remained in the game right up to the final whistle but were unable to snatch a late draw.
How they lined-up:
Egypt: Mohamed El-Shennawi – Omar Gaber, Mahmoud El-Wensh, Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, Ahmed Fattouh – Hamdi Fathi, Mohamed Elneny, Amr El-Sulaya – Mahmoud Trezeguet, Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Mohamed
Senegal: Edouard Mendy – Bouna Sarr, Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdou Diallo, Saliou Ciss – Idrissa Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyate, Nampalys Mendy – Ismaila Sarr, Famara Diedhiou, Sadio Mane
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