Mo Salah’s late penalty gives Egypt first World Cup qualification since 1990
Liverpool forward scored twice in 2-1 win over Congo
Poland also seal spot in Russia after beating Montenegro
An injury-time penalty from Liverpool’s Mo Salah ensuredEgypt qualified for next year’sWorld Cup finals in Russia after beatingCongo 2-1 on Sunday to move into an unassailable position at the top of their group with one match still to complete.
The Pharaohs, who have not reached the World Cup finals since 1990, needed victory in Alexandria to guarantee their place next summer afterUganda andGhana drew on Saturday. They looked on course when Salah put Héctor Cúper’s side ahead just after the hour, only for Arnold Bouka Moutou to equalise with his first international goal, , firing past 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam Al Hadary with three minutes left.
But a late penalty from Salah ensured Egypt will be in Russia, making them the second African nation to qualify afterNigeria’s victory overZambia on Saturday.
Poland sealed their first World Cup spot since the 2006 tournament after an early onslaught and a late flourish, including a goal from the excellent Robert Lewandowski, gave them a 4-2 home win overMontenegro.
The result left Poland top of Group E with 25 points from 10 games, five ahead of second-placedDenmark who sealed a play-off berth after a 1-1 home draw withRomania despite Tottenham’sChristian Eriksen scoring for a sixth successive match.