2018 FIFA WC Qualifier: Mohamed Salah sends Egypt to World Cup

08 Octobre 2017

CAIRO, Egypt, October  8 (Infosplusgabon)  - Mohamed Salah sent Egypt to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia when he scored a brace to overpower Congo in their penultimate Group E match played at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Egypt on Sunday.

The Egyptian winger opened the scores in the 63th minute but saw this effort cancelled by Arnold Bouka in the 88th minute.

Salah, who plays for English premiership  side Liverpool, then converted a penalty five minutes inside time added on to give the North Africans their ticket to the World Cup for the first time since 1990.

The result means Egypt have an unassailable 12 points, Uganda have 8, Ghana 6 and Congo 1. Egypt will play their final group match against Ghana while Congo will meet Uganda.

Egypt and Nigeria have clinched their places from the Africa Zone qualifiers this weekend. The final three places will be determined after the final round of matches.

Ghana have, meanwhile, said they have protested to FIFA over the performance of South African referee Daniel Bennett and his assistants Eldrick Adelaide and Steve Marie during their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Uganda on Saturday that ended in a barren draw.

A GFA press release said it filed the protest FIFA immediately after the match at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala. Bennett and assistants denied Ghana a perfect goal in the 93rd minute with television replays showing that it was a perfect goal.

"The referee also denied Ghana a penalty earlier in the second half when Ghana midfielder Frank Acheampong was brought down in the box," it said.

"The GFA respectfully asks FIFA to consider the possibility of a replay in order to serve the ends of justice without fear or favour."

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/KIO/GABON 2017

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