World Cup Qualifiers – Egypt vs Senegal: Egypt and Senegal following their AFCON finals clash, locked horns once again last night. This time a spot in the World Cup was on the line. In the 1st leg at the Cairo International Stadium.
Mo Salah struck early in the contest as his attempt from short-range rebounded off Ciss to be awarded as an own goal. The remainder of the match was a proper battle between two evenly matched teams.
However, the match was not able to witness a second goal. Therefore, this contest will go into Senegal, with Egypt having to hold on to the one-goal lead, to make it to Qatar.
World Cup Qualifiers – Egypt vs Senegal: Match report
Full-time score: Egypt 1-0 Senegal.
Egypt line up: El Shenawy M, Abdelmonem M (39′ Yasser Ibrahim), El Fotouh A, Elneny M, El Solia A, Fathi H, Gaber O, Hamdi M, Mostafa Mohamed ( 27 ′ Marmoush O), Salah M, Trezeguet (45′ Dunga N.).
Subs: Gabaski, Sobhi M, Afsha, Alaa M, Ashour E, Ashraf A, Dunga N, Hamdi M, Kamal O, Marmoush O, Yasser Ibrahim, Zizo.
Scorer: Ciss 4’ (OG).
Bookings: 31’ Hamdi M, 33′ Trezeguet.
Senegal line up: Mendy E, Ciss S, Diallo A (14′ Cisse P), Diedhiou F (17’ Dieng B), Gueye I, Koulibaly K, Kouyate C (45’ Gueye P), Mane S, Mendy N, Sarr B, Sarr I.
Subs: Faty AB, Kamara B, Balde K, Ballo-Toure F, Cisse P, Dia B , Dieng B, Gueye P, Loum M, Sabaly Y, Sarr P, Seck A.
Goals: at 4 ‘pt Ciss S. (own goal Senegal).
Booking: 45′ Mendy.
Post-match reactions
Head coach of Egypt, Carlos Queiroz: “When it was necessary to defend as a team and fight, you saw one of the most brave Egyptians fighting on the pitch.
“At a certain point of the game. It is normal in football that the team which is losing double their efforts. They start to put the ball forward and put pressure on our defenders. Our team was forced to regroup.
“With amazing fantastic fighting spirit, we got back into the game and controlled Senegal and finished on top.
“It’s a 0-0 World Cup game, everything is open. We need to be more powerful, we need to do it double and defend with 15 or 16 players. We will probably need to fight for our lives in Dakar.
“History does not talk about those who play better. As we know, Italy played well yesterday against Macedonia and they are out of the World Cup.”
