Senegal booked a place in 2022 FIFA World Cup with a 3-1penalty shoot-out win over Egypt at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio on Tuesday evening.
The Teranga Lions won the game 1-0 on the night, but with Egypt winning by the same score line in the reverse fixture, the game had to be decided from the spot following 120 minutes of football.
Following their 1-0 defeat away in Egypt, the Teranga Lions made amends as they attacked the visitors from the first whistle.
Their efforts were rewarded in the second minute when Boulaye Dia drilled home from close range after a corner is poorly cleared by left-back Ahmed Fattouh at the far post.
It took the Pharaohs 20 minutes to settle down in the match as they calmed down proceedings and found their way into the Senegalese half.
Ismaila Sarr nearly extended the Lions of Teranga lead but he sent his header over the crossbar as they were willing to further torment the Egyptians.
However, the visitors put pressure on the hosts and they unleashed a powerful shot but Eduardo Mendy punched the shot back into action with the follow up attempt flying off target.
On the stroke of half time, Egypt nearly equalised when they forced a save from the Senegal keeper, he had to be alert to direct the ball from danger.
Mohamed Elneny beautifully lofted ball from the right-hand side into the box for Mohamed Salah, who broke the offside trap but couldn’t get on the end of it as the bal trickled agonisingly wide of the post.
As the second half continued, Senegal responded to Egypt early threats and Sadio Mane flashed an effort from the angle on the right-hand side of the box that grazed the crossbar as it went over.
Baba Dieng was brought on for Bouna Sarr and made an immediate impact dribbling past his marker on the left and getting to the byline before squaring into the box but Sabaly and Nampalys seemed to get in each other’s way as the former’s close-range effort was well saved by Mohamed El-Shenaway.
The chances were coming thick and fast in an end-to-end match as Ayman Ashraf was teed up and his first-time effort was powerfully struck but left the crossbar rattling as it rebounded away to safety.
Mane tried to sneak the win in the dying stages of the contest, but the Pharaohs keeper closed him down. At the other end of the park , Ahmed Zizo, broke free – his shot hit went over the bar with Mendy beaten. With both sides unable to find the winning goal within 90 minutes of regulation time, the match headed for extra-time.
Mohamed El-Shenawy produced two brilliant saves in the opening half of extra time, denying Teranga Lions the lead and in the second 15 minutes Ismaila Sarr went close to killing the game when his shot was saved by the Al Ahly keeper who was quick to react.
In the end the match had to be decided from 12 yards and after Kalidou Koulibaly and Saliou Ciss wasted their penalties, Sadio Mane scored the winning goal to send Senegal to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
How they lined-up:
Senegal: E. Mendy, Y. Sabaly, P. Cisse, K. Koulibaly, S. Ciss, B. Sarr (B. Dieng 68′), N. Mendy (C. Kouyate 81′), I. Gueye (P. Sarr 114′), S. Mane, B. Dia (P. Gueye 81′), I. Sarr.
Egypt: M. El Shenawy, R. Rabia (E. Ashour 36′), O. Gaber (A. Ashraf 29′), Y. Ibrahim, A. El Fotouh, H. Fathi (M. Alaa 118′), M. Elneny (N. Emad 70′), A. El Soleya, O. Marmoush (M. Mohamed 70′), M. Salah, Trezeguet (Zizo 70′).
