ATfter their victory with a narrow score (1-0), thanks to a strike from Mohamed Salah which provoked the own goal of Saliou Ciss, during the reception of Senegal in Cairo, Egypt must defend their advantage to hope qualification for the 2022 World Cup. Having had several chances in the first leg, the African champions, led by Sadio Mané, intend to overthrow the Egyptians in their new stadium in Diamniadio, the new town 30 km from Dakar, to play their third world, after 2002 and 2018.
Egypt has won a battle
With a good start to the match, a quick opener with an own goal, provoked by Mohamed Salah, and a high level first half, Egypt then contained the onslaught of Senegal in 2and period to afford a great victory in front of an inflamed public in Cairo. However, the content proposed by the men of Carlos Queiroz is far from unanimous. Criticized for his tactics and his reputation as an overly defensive tactician by the Egyptian media, he replied curtly after the first leg: “Have you seen the match? I see no reason to be angry or sad because we have just won against a strong team which is the best in Africa, which has won the African Cup of Nations and played in the World Cup. »
“My job is to make decisions and win games, and your job is to criticize. We are not here in a coaching conference, I am not discussing my technical decisions with journalists. I’m like a singer, you can like my song or not. The day I have the certainty of not having the ability to win a team, I will leave. I’ve been doing this job for over 40 years. I have never seen a team that has 100% possession. At last, we had 46%. In the final, it was 51%. When Senegal gives us 5%, I can do something miraculous. I know it, Senegal knows that we can do something magical. »
On the eve of this important return match, Carlos Queiroz therefore showed great confidence. According to him, his approach is essentially focused on his team: “Everyone is in the discipline. We have a team of humble, disciplined and hardworking players. If we stay true to our principles, we are able to qualify. Whether against Senegal or Côte d’Ivoire, we are not fixed on our adversary, we play above all against ourselves. And tomorrow, we will have to deliver an even better performance. “Possibly needing to take cover with an away goal, don’t expect to see an Egypt side just defending their advantage, especially against a team with their backs to the wall, must score at all costs. It will be a question for the Pharaohs to take the measure of the opposition, to cool the atmosphere which promises to be very electric at the Diamniadio stadium and to seize the opportunities which will arise, while obviously having a methodical and pragmatic approach. For the record, pre-match training ended with a penalty shootout, which remains a house specialty despite the defeat in the final, where the wear and tear of a third match ending in penalties has without no doubt weighed mentally.
Senegal’s back to the wall
“We must quickly evacuate this defeat. We have confidence in ourselves, this World Cup there we can go. God has made this important match on Tuesday become a decisive match, it is imperative that Senegal wins. Now things are clear, there is no more calculation to do. We must win. There is no need to think from noon to 2 p.m. Today, the situation is clearer. It’s true that if we had won there, there may be a relaxation at some point. If we had drawn, it would be more complicated. While there, everything is obvious. Only victory will be beautiful, only victory will ensure that Senegal will be qualified”, said the coach of the Lions as soon as he got off at Dakar international airport. Having suffered their first defeat since the CAN 2019 final, Senegal, with only one goal to come back, did not however carry out a catastrophic operation. However, after 210 minutes of play against the vice-champion of Africa, Senegal, although winner of the CAN, did not score the slightest goal for the team coached by Carlos Queiroz. A fact that questions the changes that Aliou Cissé could make for the return match, adjustments are expected on the Senegal side.
A possible change of system on the part of Aliou Cissé has already been mentioned. Senegal could be organized in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 system with Sadio Mané repositioned in a role of second striker, or even number 10. The consequence would be the exit of a midfielder defensive vocation for the benefit of an additional lane player. Bouna Sarr, used as a right winger at the start of the CAN, could be an option with the return of Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis) at right back. The idea would probably be to quickly open the scoring and force Egypt to discover themselves. However, not revealing all your cards and betting only on a big start to the match would be wise. Carlos Queiroz’s Egypt have the ability to know how to respond to the opposition proposed by the opponent and finish the match stronger than they started following well-received adjustments, with excellent players like Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek) or Al Ahly playmaker Magdy Afsha, back in selection after his non-selection at the CAN.
In addition, the Pharaohs could benefit from a numerical advantage in the midfield to oppose a dense block in the midfield and capable of breaking the rhythm that Senegal wishes to impose from the start. The conservative option would be to renew the system in 4-3-3, the use of which during the AFCON allowed the Lions to find a better balance, but with the option of aligning the Marseilles Pape Gueye to bring more technical quality in the midfield, between the lines, and at the restart where the sentry Nampalys Mendy, who improves the game of Senegal starting from the defense. With a view to maintaining defensive stability and making changes during matches. But with a bench where few players have asserted themselves as impact players apart from the two OM players, Pape Gueye and Bamba Dieng.
One thing is certain: this new clash between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, which has become a classic, only one of these two great teams will represent Africa at the World Cup. These play-offs once again demonstrating the inequality of the continents having to defend their chances at the World Cup, Carlos Queiroz also regrets the draw: “If the rules depended only on me, the two best teams would not have to face each other in a play-off match for the World Cup, they would both qualify. With only 5 out of 54 nations getting their ticket to the World Cup, access to the World Cup is never really acquired, the example of the great Egyptian team of the 2000s, triple African champion between 2006 and 2010 is no exception. Senegal wants to avoid the same fate as the team of Ahmed Hassan and Abou Treika, Egypt, meanwhile, wants to avenge the affront of the lost CAN final.
