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Africa’s 10 best teams close out the region’s final round of World Cup qualifying with Tuesday’s second legs. Each matchup was finely poised following some tight opening fixtures. Below, theScore has the results that determine which five African nations go to Qatar.
Nigeria 1-1 Ghana (Ghana advances on away goals)
Ghana qualified for the World Cup on away goals following a 1-1 draw against West African rivals Nigeria.
Thomas Partey stunned the crowd in Abuja when his hopeful effort from outside the area squirmed under goalkeeper Francis Uzoho. However, Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong converted a spot-kick later in the first half after 33-year-old Denis Odoi conceded a penalty in his second outing for Ghana.
Ghana’s attacks gradually eased off when it tried to protect its away-goal advantage in the second half, and that in-game management paid off.
Nigeria is now left to pick up the pieces following a qualification campaign that included a draw with Cape Verde and defeat to the Central African Republic before its World Cup hopes were dashed in the high-stakes Jollof derby.
Ghana will play in its fourth World Cup when it competes in Qatar later this year.
Senegal 1-0 Egypt (1-1 on aggregate, Senegal wins shootout)
Senegal beat Egypt on penalties again to secure its third appearance at the World Cup.
Almost two months after the Lions of Teranga topped the Pharaohs on spot-kicks to win the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal triumphed in a shootout once more. Sadio Mane scored the winning penalty, just as he did in the AFCON final.
Mane’s Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah sent Egypt’s first penalty over the bar. The attacker, 29, played two World Cup matches at Russia 2018, scoring a goal apiece in those group-stage games, but will now have to wait until the qualification cycle in 2026 for another opportunity to appear on soccer’s biggest stage.
Boulaye Dia stabbed home from close range to level the doubleheader in just the third minute, somehow raising the volume even higher at the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade. The national team’s new 50,000-capacity home, located around 20 miles from the capital Dakar, was hosting its first competitive match and the lively locals ensured Senegal had home advantage long before kickoff.
Tensions threatened to boil over in the second half as desperate lunges and petty shoves disrupted the game’s flow. Egypt showed more attacking intent but substitute Zizo couldn’t finish two of its best openings. Senegal had its own gilt-edged opportunity, though, with Ismaila Sarr wastefully steering wide of the post as goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy closed him down.
El Shenawy’s influence grew as he heroically kept out efforts from Pape Abou Cisse, Bamba Dieng, and Sarr in the opening minutes of extra time. Once again, Sarr should’ve hit the back of the net with his chance.
The final 15 minutes were less eventful as the teams dragged themselves toward the inevitability of penalties. It was a nervy back-and-forth from 12 yards, with Senegal taking a 3-1 win in the shootout.
3:30 p.m. ET kickoffs
- Algeria vs. Cameroon (agg. 1-0)
- Morocco vs. DR Congo (agg. 1-1)
- Tunisia vs. Mali (agg. 1-0)
