Mohamed Salah sent Egypt to the World Cup finals after the Liverpool winger’s injury-time penalty kick secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Congo in Alexandria.
Egypt needed a victory to book their place in Russia next summer and took the lead via Salah just after the hour-mark, with the former Chelsea attacker netting after a pass from Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny.
That opener would send the stadium and the Egyptian players wild, not to mention the tv commentator.
However, late on, Arnold Bouka-Moutou equalised for the hosts to stun the home fans into concerned silence.
Arnold Bouka Moutou buteur ce soir face à l’Egypte ! Défaite 2-1 du Congo#WCQualifiers #WCQ2018 #EGYCOG pic.twitter.com/rSeGGvs9fy
— Made in DFCO (@MadeinDFCO) October 8, 2017
The game looked to be headed for a draw when Egypt were awarded a penalty in deepest, darkest injury time.
Defying the intense pressure, Salah duly stepped up and coolly slotted home to send his side to Russia. Not surprisingly, the winner sent everyone involved ever more berserk this time.
Mohamed Salah’s game-winning penalty that sent Egypt to the 2018 World Cup. 😭😭😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/1r4tboa5Kl
— Sjr (@_ASakka) October 8, 2017
Egypt, who go four points clear of second-placed Uganda in Group E, will now take their place in next summer’s finals, which will be their first appearance in the competition since 1990.
It also means that, post Russia 2018, Egypt’s long-serving goalkeeper Essam Al Hadary, who made his international debut in 1996, will finally – finally! – be able to retire (after the tournament, of course) having made it to his first World Cup at the age of 44.
Incredible.