Egypt will be determined to protect their one-goal lead over Senegal when they face off in their Fifa World Cup second leg qualifier at the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade on Tuesday evening.
BET ON THE CAF WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Mohamed Salah was the playmaker of the decisive goal as Egypt managed to claim a 1-0 victory over Senegal in the first leg at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday evening after he turned inside the box to fire his effort against the crossbar with the rebound hitting Senegal defender Saliou Ciss before the ball went into his own net.
The much-anticipated encounter was a repeat of the Africa Cup of Nations final last month, in which Senegal won 4-2 on penalties in Cameroon after 120 goalless minutes after Sadio Mane scored the winning penalty to see his side lift their first-ever Afcon trophy.
The clash at the Cairo International Stadium was one of three first legs fixtures which was decided by a solitary goal with Algeria winning 1-0 against Cameroon in Douala and Tunisia achieving a similar result against Mali in Bamako.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse has called on the crowd to get behind his team.
“We need more fanaticism when it comes to supporting our national team like they do in Egypt and other North African countries,” says Cisse.
“Those who wear suits to football matches must give their tickets to Senegalese supporters who wear football jerseys. We want to see only green, yellow and red (national flag colours) in the stands.”
Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz wants his team to put in a massive shift.
The former Manchester United assistant says: “What I mean by 16 players is that each one must make the effort of two players, not just one player.
“We deservedly won the first leg against the best team in Africa and now we are going to Senegal to fight for every metre, every loose ball. Every Egyptian must double his efforts.”
In the last six meetings between the two nations, Egypt has the upper hand over their rivals with three wins to Senegal’s two as one match ended in a goalless draw, which the Pharaohs eventually went on to win 4-2 in a penalty shootout in the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Both coaches are expected to have fully fit squads for the encounter when the two teams square off.