Sadio Mane converted the decisive penalty in a shootout to qualify Senegal for the 2022 World Cup after Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah missed his spot-kick for Egypt.
Senegal was victorious on penalties in a rematch of the Africa Cup of Nations final, leaving Egypt’s players dejected and Salah – one of the world’s top players – considering his absence from November’s event in Qatar.
After extra time, the second leg of the play-off contest at Senegal’s new 50,000-capacity stadium ended 1-0 to the hosts and 1-1 on aggregate, forcing the game into a tense and suspenseful shootout.
Mane had scored the winning penalty at the Nations Cup, and the Liverpool striker struck the deciding spot-kick once again after Senegal took the lead after keeper Edouard Mendy saved from Mostafa Mohamed at 2-1.
Salah was one of four Egypt players to miss the first four penalties in a shootout highlighted by a barrage of green laser pointers thrown at the visitor’s players and goalie.
Boulaye Dia of Senegal scored the game’s sole goal in regular time, scoring after only four minutes with a strike that struck Pharaoh’s defender Hamdi Fathi in the body.