Egypt won against Senegal (1-0) the first leg of the African zone for the World Cup, taking the advantage like the other teams from North Africa, Algeria in Cameroon (1-0), the Tunisia in Mali (1-0) or Morocco in Kinshasa against Congo (1-1), Friday March 25.
In the fifth round, the duel between English-speaking giants, Ghana-Nigeria (0-0), did not allow to decide between the two adversaries.
For the “remake” of the final of the African Cup of Nations (CAN), won in early February by Senegal (0-0, 4 pens to 2), Egypt took revenge on Friday by winning the first set, thanks to a strike from Mohamed Salah, which provoked the own goal of Saliou Ciss, after the ball hit the goal and then the bar.
‘Mo’ Salah’s Liverpool partner Sadio Mané rocked the Pharaohs in the second half but failed to equalize despite several chances for the African champions, who will have to turn things around at their new Diamniadio stadium , Tuesday.
Mali weighed down
Eliminated in the first round of the CAN in Cameroon when they were defending champions, Algeria took great revenge by winning in Douala, thanks to a goal from Islam Slimani (41st). Dominated, the Cameroon of Rigobert Song, former captain turned coach, must turn the tide in Blida on Tuesday if he wants to play an eighth World Cup.
Mali, which has never played in the World Cup, was weighed down by the nightmare of former Parisian “Titi” Moussa Sissako: a terrible own goal followed by an exclusion in the position of last defender. For his third selection, the player trained at Paris Saint-Germain first scored with a far too strong back pass, when he was not even in danger (36th). Barely time to be comforted by his teammates that he saw red (40th) for a fault in the last defender on Saïfeddine Jaziri.
Morocco did not win on the road, but they brought back a promising draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo (1-1). Led from the 12th minute on a wrapped strike from the ex-Lorient Yoane Wissa, diverted by the head of Romain Saïss, the players of Vahid Halilhodzic equalized on a recovery from Tarik Tissoudali (76th) and are on favorable waivers before the match back on Tuesday. Discouraged, the Congolese finished at ten after the exclusion of Muzinga Ngonga for a foul on Achraf Hakimi (85th).
Finally in Kumasi Ghana and Nigeria failed to score and will have to decide in the second leg.
