Mohamed Salah Shines As Egypt Defeat Senegal in First Leg of 2022 FIFA World Cup Play-Offs

• Egypt vs Senegal lived up to its billing as both nations rekindle their rivalry in the race to qualify for the World Cup
• A fourth-minute own goal by Saliou Ciss was enough to give the Pharaohs a crucial win ahead of the reverse fixture
• The battle continues on Tuesday evening, March 29, as both teams meet in a blockbuster clash in Diamniadio

The Pharaohs of Egypt are one step closer to qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup following their 1-0 win over Senegal at the Cairo Stadium on Friday night, BBC Sports reports.

Both teams had met in February in the final of the 2022 AFCON tournament with the Teranga Lions winning the title via a penalty shootout.

And both teams were drawn to clash in the World Cup play-offs, with Egypt taking a first-leg slim win.

The opening goal of the encounter came in the 4th-minute following a through ball for Mohamed Salah which was brilliantly controlled by the Liverpool man.

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He fired against the cross-bar from the chance, but the rebound hit Saliou Ciss and there was nothing he could do to stop the ball from going into his own net! 1-0 Egypt.

In the 25th minute, the hosts had another half-chance through Mostafa Mohamed after Salah crossed well, but Mostafa's header was easily caught by Edouard Mendy.

Sadio Mane made his first impact on the game six minutes before half-time as he broke through the Egypt midfield reaching the edge of the box but fired over.

And six minutes into the second half, Mane again danced through a few players but his through ball was cleared for a corner.

Midway through the second half, a clash of heads stopped play for a couple of minutes, as the pressure from the visitors died down.

Somehow the Pharaohs managed to hold on to their early lead as it ended; Egypt 1-0 Senegal.

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Both teams face off again on Tuesday and the winner on aggregates will qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Cameroon 0-1 Algeria

Meanwhile, Sports Brief earlier reported that Islam Slimani was the hero for Algeria as the Desert Foxes grabbed a crucial away win in the first leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off tie against Cameroon.

The 33-year-old striker scored the game's only goal in the 40th minute when his glancing header could only be parried in by Cameroon goalkeeper, Andre Onana.

The former Leicester City forward rose highest to meet Youcef Belaili's free-kick to hand Algeria a vital lead ahead of the reverse fixture.