Senegal qualified for the World Cup in Qatar after beating Egypt in a penalty shootout after dominating a thrilling, end-to-end match on Tuesday as their two-legged CAF playoff ended 1-1 on aggregate.
Egypt came into the match with a 1–0 aggregate lead after the first leg, but it was all square minutes after kickoff when Hamdi Fathi's own goal after a poor clearance gave Senegal the lead at the start of the second leg.
The hosts were better in the first half in front of a crowd of 50,000 at the new Diamniadio Olympic Stadium outside Dakar, but they failed to score another goal and took a 1–0 advantage at the break.
Senegal controlled most of the exchanges on either side of half-time, although the game was often interrupted by devious fouls, sportsmanship and sometimes squabbles between anxious players.
It didn't help that both coaches - Aliu Sisse for Senegal and Carlos Queiroz for Egypt - spent most of the match barking at officials from the touchline.
Egypt substitute Zizo had two excellent chances to give his team the lead after coming on in the 70th minute, but the Zamalek attacker lacked the cutting edge and both opportunities were begging as the match progressed to extra time.
It was Senegal's turn to ruin the gilt-edge opportunity as Ismaila Sarr's curling shot was missed from the far post when she found herself free on goal, only to defeat Egyptian keeper Mohamed El-Shenawi.
Sir missed another setback at the start of extra time, with his close-range shot from a Sadio Mane cross with the goal at El-Shenawi open otherwise.
Senegal dominated throughout extra time, but they had nothing to show and the game went into a shootout.
In the shootout, Sarr wasted the first four penalties before putting Senegal ahead and Bamba Dieng made it 2–1 before Edouard Mendy saved from Mustafa Mohamed. Mane hit the deciding spot kick as the hosts made it to the World Cup for the third time in the country's history.
"I was not worried about how they would manage the game mentally. We have players winning the Champions League," said winning coach Sis.
Mane's Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah missed an early spot kick for Egypt on Tuesday in a rematch of this year's Africa Cup of Nations final, which Senegal won 4-2 in an equally dramatic shootout.