Sadio Mane secured Senegal’s place on the World Cup with a win over Egypt on penalties after Mohamed Salah was focused by laser pointers as he stepped as much as take his staff’s first kick within the shootout.
Mane kicked the winner from the spot for a 3-1 victory within the penalty shootout at Senegal’s new Abdoulaye Wade Stadium after their playoff ended 1-1 on mixture. Senegal’s victory was like a repeat of the African Cup of Nations closing final month when Mane clinched a primary main title for his nation by additionally scoring the profitable penalty in a shootout towards the Egyptians.
Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia and Cameroon additionally certified for Qatar and can be part of Senegal to make up Africa’s 5 groups on the World Cup. While Mane has now celebrated an African championship and a World Cup place in fast succession, there was extra ache for his Liverpool teammate Salah, the Egypt captain.
After Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly hit the crossbar with the primary penalty of the shootout, Salah blasted his try over the crossbar whereas he had green-colored laser pointers shone on his face and physique, presumably by Senegalese followers making an attempt to distract him.
The complete recreation was marked by these lasers being continuously shone at Egypt gamers. Senegal gamers additionally had the identical drawback within the first leg in Cairo final week. Salah did not get an opportunity to take a penalty within the African Cup closing shootout because it was determined earlier than it received to him. Going first went no higher for him this time and Egypt missed three of its 4 penalties in Senegal.
Senegal additionally missed its first two however Ismaila Sarr and Bamba Dieng scored, giving Mane the possibility to seal a spot on the World Cup in Qatar with Senegal’s fifth penalty. He seemed on the referee, gave him a thumbs-up after which smashed it down the center in entrance of round 50,000 followers.
The second leg had completed 1-0 for Senegal after additional time due to an early purpose from shut vary by Boulaye Dia. That left it 1-1 on mixture after Egypt’s slender first-leg victory, when Salah was key in giving his staff the lead.
It’s simply the third time Senegal has certified for the World Cup and the primary time it has reached back-to-back tournaments after additionally making it to Russia in 2018. Before that, Senegal’s solely different look was in 2002, when it made a shocking run to the quarterfinals on debut.
Also Tuesday, Cameroon pulled off a surprising 2-1 victory in Algeria after additional time to finish 2-2 on mixture and advance on the away targets rule. Cameroon, trailing 1-0 from its residence leg, scored early to degree it. But Ahmed Touba’s header from a nook with two minutes to go in additional time appeared to have secured a dramatic qualification for Algeria.
Cameroon launched a free kick at Algeria’s purpose within the fourth minute of damage time on the finish of additional time and Karl Toko Ekambi related with a low volley to see Cameroon take the World Cup place. Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi slumped to his knees and lined his face along with his arms and stayed like that for minutes as officers tried to console him. It was one other arduous blow for Algeria after it was dumped out of the African Cup within the group stage two months in the past to finish the protection of its title.
Ghana earlier turned the primary staff from Africa to qualify for this 12 months’s World Cup with a 1-1 attract Nigeria within the second leg to advance on away targets after the primary leg in Ghana ended 0-0. Thomas Partey scored the decisive purpose for Ghana within the tenth minute in Abuja. William Troost-Ekong equalized for Nigeria with a penalty within the twenty second however Nigeria could not use its residence benefit to get a winner.
Ghana will return to the World Cup after lacking out on the 2018 match. Angry Nigerian followers threw plastic bottles and different objects on the finish after which invaded the sphere, forcing Ghana’s gamers to scramble for security down the tunnel whereas police let off tear gasoline within the stadium.
Morocco beat Congo 4-1 for a 5-2 mixture victory. Tunisia was completely happy to attract 0-0 at residence towards Mali to get to the World Cup with a 1-0 mixture win. It denied Mali a debut at soccer’s marquee match.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
