Senegal qualify for 2022 FIFA World Cup, beating Egypt in quals

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Senegal booked their place Tuesday in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, eliminating Egypt in the African qualifiers on penalties.

The Lions of Teranga scored the only goal in regular time when forward Boulaye Dia put the ball into the net in the third minute at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade near Dakar.

The match went to extra time because Egypt beat Senegal 1-0 in the first match of Round Three in the 2022 Confederation of African Football (CAF) World Cup qualifiers last week.

Neither team managed to find a goal after 30 minutes and the match headed to penalties.

Senegal won 3-1 on penalties to reach Qatar 2022.

Liverpool's Egyptian star Mohamed Salah will not be in Qatar but his Senegalese teammate Sadio Mane will play for his nation.

Salah was among the Egyptian players who missed penalty kicks in the shootout.

Mane scored the decisive penalty to send Senegal to the World Cup.

Senegal secured a World Cup berth for the second time in a row.

The Lions of Teranga previously played in the 2002 and 2018 World Cup tournaments.

Meanwhile, during the shootout, several Senegalese fans aimed laser pointers into the eyes of Egypt players to distract them.

Both sides faced each other in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on Feb. 6 with Senegal beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties to be crowned winners.

Earlier Tuesday, Ghana reached Qatar 2022 despite drawing with Nigeria 1-1.

Ghana reached the World Cup thanks to an away goal advantage.

The Black Stars appeared in three World Cup tournaments in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

The 2022 World Cup will be held Nov. 21 - Dec. 18 with 32 teams in eight groups.