Egypt captain Salah vows to avenge Africa Cup of Nations final loss against Senegal tonight
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah celebrates beating Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. Pic/AFP
Egypt captain Mohamed Salah has vowed to avenge an Africa Cup of Nations final loss last month to Sadio Mane-inspired Senegal when they clash again on Friday in a 2022 World Cup play-off. Failure in the continental final was particularly bitter for prolific Liverpool scorer Salah as he was also part of the Egyptian team that lost the 2017 Cup of Nations final against Cameroon.
Spotlight on Mane
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Liverpool teammate Mane played a pivotal role in the first Cup of Nations triumph of Senegal—atoning for a penalty miss in regular time by converting the spot-kick that won the shoot-out. Egypt host the first leg on Friday and Senegal have home advantage next Tuesday with the aggregate winners filling one of five places reserved for Africa at the 32-nation finals in Qatar.
Cameroon are seeking a record-extending eighth appearance by an African nation at the World Cup and Mali hoping to reach the finals for the first time. Senegal coach Aliou Cisse says the Cup of Nations triumph is history and all that matters is securing a second straight World Cup appearance. “Winning the Cup of Nations is not an end in itself because we share a common goal of playing at the World Cup again,” he told reporters. With a ‘spine’ comprising Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye and Mane, Senegal are well equipped to succeed.
Goalkeeper Shenawy back
Egypt welcome back star goalkeeper Mohamed el Shenawy, who missed the Cup of Nations final through injury, but they were the second best side in the African title decider and start as underdogs. The Egyptian media reported Egypt captain Salah telling his teammates after the penalty shoot-out defeat in Cameroon that “we meet them [Senegal] again next month and inshallah [God willing] we will take revenge.” Nigeria are favoured, but tradition suggests a close affair with each nation winning twice in previous World Cup qualifiers and four other meetings drawn. Both fared poorly at the Cup of Nations with Ghana shock first-round casualties after losing to minnows Comoros and Nigeria making a timid last-16 departure against Tunisia.
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