Egypt emerged victorious in the first leg of their World Cup play-off semi-final against Senegal on Friday evening.
In front of a hostile crowd inside the Cairo International Stadium, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah helped force the only goal of the game, with his shot rebounding off of Saliou Ciss and past Edouard Mendy in the Senegalese goal.
In truth, there was little Ciss could do about the goal, underlining the fine margins on which these two titans of the African game are split.
Unlike much of the Africa Cup of Nations final between the two just over a month ago, the game was played at a frantic pace (albeit amid a lack of clear-cut chances), with the home side buoyed on by a raucous support.
Senegal, despite their dramatic penalty shootout win in Cameroon last month potentially offering as some sort of psychological advantage, struggled to get their attacking game flowing, even when Sadio Mane’s influence grew as the contest went on.
The African champions have it all to do in Dakar on Tuesday.
