Mohamed Salah is going back to the World Cup with Egypt next summer. The Liverpool superstar scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Djibouti on Wednesday to ensure Egypt tops its African qualifying group with one round to spare.
Egypt is the third African team to qualify so far, joining Morocco and Tunisia. Ibrahim Adel also scored for Egypt.
Salah and Egypt went to the 2018 World Cup, but he was affected by a shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League final weeks earlier when Liverpool lost to Real Madrid. At that edition, Egypt lost all three of their group games against host Russia, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Egypt will be among nine African teams that directly qualify in the World Cup tournament draw on December 5 in Washington DC.
Burkina Faso are second behind Egypt in Group A after their 1-0 win at Sierra Leone, while Ethiopia beat Guinea Bissau 1-0. Cape Verde fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 against Libya to inch closer to what would be its first-ever World Cup qualification. Cape Verde lead Group D by two points over Cameroon, which beat Mauritius 2-0.
In another Group D clash, Angola drew 2-2 at home against Eswatini. Ghana's 5-0 victory over the Central African Republic edged the Black Stars closer to qualification, needing one point from their last match. Madagascar remain second behind Ghana in Group I following a 2-1 victory over Comoros. Mali secured a 2-0 away victory over Chad. Also, Niger beat Congo 3-1, and Zambia topped Tanzania 1-0 in Group E.
Saudi Arabia inch closer
Saudi Arabia beat Indonesia 3-2 to be just a match away from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. A victory against Iraq next Tuesday would guarantee Saudi Arabia the first place in Group B and a seventh World Cup appearance.
In the fourth round of Asian qualifying, only the winners of the two groups of three earn automatic berths to the tournament. The runners-up advance to a fifth round.
Indonesia, coached by former Netherlands and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert, struck first on Wednesday when Kevin Diks converted a penalty in the 11th minute. Six minutes later, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat equalised, and Firas Al-Buraikan's penalty in the 37th minute put Saudi Arabia ahead. Al-Buraikan scored again just after the hour mark, but Diks converted a second penalty in the 89th minute. Saudi Arabia's Mohamed Kanno was sent off in stoppage time, but the hosts held on for the win.
Also read: Brazil qualify for FIFA World Cup, Chile miss out again
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