Sadio Mane’s Lions of Teranga added insult to injury after eliminating the pharaos of Egypt from the World Cup qualifiers only a little over a month after winning the AFCON at the expense of Egypt in Cameroon. The African champions will join South American champions and the Asian champions for the the world Cup later this year in Qatar.
The match was decided on post-Match penalties after it ended 1-1 on aggregate. Both teams missed their first two penalties including captains Kalidou Koulibaly and Mo Salah who surprisingly took the first penalty but blasted it over the cross bar. However Chelsea shot stopper Edouard Mendy heroics came to play saving Mostafa Mohamed’s penalty before Sadio Mane sent El-shanawy the wrong way to seal a world cup berth for Senegal sending the home fans into rapture.
Egypt’s manager Carlos Queiroz has stepped down from his position after the loss with the Egyptian FA filing a complain to FIFA over Laser beams being pointed at their players during the shoot-outs as well as claims of racism after their bus was attacked and players targeted by the Senegal fans after the game.
Elsewhere, a Karl Toko Ekambi sensational stoppage time winner in extra time saw the Indomitable lions book their slot in Qatar on away goal rules at the expense of Algeria. The Desert foxes looked to have booked their slot after left back Ahmed Touba leaped highest to score from Rashid Ghezzal’s corner to equalize for the former African champions just four minutes before Ekambi’s game winner. Rigobert Song was visibly elated after their qualification it being his first important task after being appointed close to a month ago after their Semi-finals exit at the AFCON in January. On the flip side Djamel Belmadi who was left in tears following their shock elimination by Cameroon has vacated his role as the National team Head coach following their failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Nigeria suffered a shock exit in the West African Jollof Derby on the away goal rules after a 1-1 stalemate with Ghana at the MKO Abiola nation stadium in Abuja. The black stars who missed the 2018 edition in Russia took the lead through Arsenal’s Thomas Partey but the hosts equalized from the spot through Watford’s Troost-Ekong. The result meant Atto Addo became the second ingenious coach to take Ghana to the global showpiece after Kwesi Appiah in 2014.
Dr. Joseph Kabungo, a COSAFA official sadly lost his life in Abuja after riots rocked the stadium following Nigeria’s elimination from the World Cup qualifiers.The Zambian medical practitioner is said to have lost consciousness after he was beaten and stepped on as fans tried to make their way out of the stadium due to the stampede. COASAF has mourned the death of the acting doping officer saying he was a dedicated man who loved the sport. “We mourn the passing of our CAF/FIFA official and we extend our condolences to the family, he was one of the outstanding Zambian football personalities that flew the Zambian flag at global football events,” read part of the statement.
Morocco and Tunisia also booked their slots at the Continental showpiece following their victories over Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali respectively. Morocco thumped DR Congo 4-1 in the second leg and 5-2 on aggregate as Tunisia drew at home but advanced on aggregate following the 1-0 away way at Mali last weekend.
The five African slots for the World Cup have all been booked with Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia and Cameroon carrying the continent’s hope on their shoulders at the global tournament to be held in Qatar later this year.
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