World Cup 2022: It’s the AFCON Final Replay!

Egypt vs Senegal

Egypt and Senegal are set to meet again, just over a month after the Lions of Teranga, managed by Aliou Cisse, lifted the African Cup of Nations after an epic clash with the Pharaohs in the final.

Now the two teams are coming face to face for a place at the World Cup 2022 finals in Qatar and we’re sure to see a hard fought two legs. Egypt are the hosts in the first leg on March 25^th and then the two rival nations head to Dakar for the final shootout next week. At 18^th in the FIFA World Rankings Senegal are 16 places above Egypt and will be marginal favourites to make it to the showcase finals, but there was little to choose between the two sides at AFCON when the Lions eventually triumphed on penalties. 

Of course the second big story in this game, along with the AFCON fall out, is the coming together, once again of Liverpool’s strike pairing of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane. It was Mane who was celebrating in Cameroon as Senegal deservedly won the tournament and Salah will do his utmost to help the Pharaoh’s exact some revenge. He’s the Premier League’s top scorer with 20, seven clear of team-mate Diogo Jota and eight clear of Mane who is joint third.

Whichever of Salah or Mane make it to Qatar, they are sure to write some World Cup 2022 news headlines.

Talking points

Egypt rely on Mo’s fitness 

Egypt head coach Carlos Queiroz has received a timely boost in that his star striker is fit to play after an injury scare kept Salah out of action last week. He received a knock in Liverpool’s victory over Brighton and Hove Albion and started on the bench against Arsenal, though he came on as a substitute for Luiz Diaz, before sitting out the FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest.   

Liverpool have roared back in the Premier League title race recently as Manchester City have slipped up and the gap at the top has reduced to a single point, and the Reds are desperate to keep their top man fit for the remainder of the campaign. And so are the Pharaoh’s who need him to add to his 47 goals from 82 international appearances. Salah will be backed up by Arsenal wide man Mohammed Elneny and former Aston Villa man Trezeguet; while keeper Mohamed El Shenawy will be tasked with keeping Mane at bay.

But the Pharaohs were criticised at AFCON for being overly defensive and cautious and they can’t afford to make that mistake again.  

Senegal all stars can share the load

While Egypt are often over-reliant on Salah and prone to play for a 1-0 win the Senegalese showed much more attacking ambition at AFCON, which they could afford to do with a higher quality squad. From Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy, through to Napoli’s defensive rock Kaldou Koulibaly, PSG’s midfield maestro Idrissa Gueye and Mane up front they have a spine of top European football stars.      

There may also be a place for Watford striker Ismaila Sarr, a player with explosive pace and strength. Watford are in serious relegation trouble and their problems worsened when Sarr was away at the whole of AFCON with the champions.

The World Cup 2022 betting oddswon’t back the Lions to go very deep into the competition but, if they make it through this play-off then they’re sure to give it one heck of a go!

History

The Lions of Teranga dominated the African Cup of Nations final with 57 per cent possession, and they won the shot count by 13 to seven and seven to three on target. And though the game went to penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, Senegal won the penalty shootout 4-2 to take their first ever AFCON title.

Senegal have the better form over the past ten games, winning six and drawing four, while the Pharaohs have won four, drawn four and lost two. Egypt are unbeaten in the last six though, with three wins and three 0-0 stalemates after extra time at AFCON.     

Betting Tip

Salah is a potential match-winner for Egypt and he has a big incentive to help his team win this home tie, but Senegal have more quality in depth and I suspect the Lions of Teranga can go to the second leg still level with Egypt, and that may well be enough. A repeat of the AFCON final score line of 0-0 is at SBOTOP odds of 5.75 and, with the hosts’ defensive prowess and the visitors’ top-class keeper, I certainly wouldn’t rule that out.

 

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