Salah returns Egypt to the World Cup after 28 years of absence

Egypt won the 2018 World Cup in Russia after a 28-year absence on Sunday, beating their Congolese hosts 2-1 at the Borg el-Arab Stadium in Alexandria for the fifth and final round of the African World Cup qualifiers. The crowd was over 75,000.

Egypt won the World Cup for the third time in its history after the 1934 and 1990 editions in Italy.

Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool star, advanced to Egypt in the 62nd minute and tied for Congo Arnold Boko in the 87th minute, before Salah grabbed the winner's goal and a historic win in the 90th minute.

Egypt lifted their lead to 12 points, boosting their lead to Group E, four points clear of their nearest rivals, Uganda.

The match was characterized by intense competition between the two teams, despite the difference in ability. Egypt's attempts began from the first minute, with an unfinished dribble from Ramadan Subhi, and a start from Salah was stopped by the defense with a mistake on the edge of the penalty area.

Congo appeared with passes in the middle of the pitch, and a shot away from the goal of the urban.

Saleh made an easy cross for Coca, who had an easy header, with a cross from the crossbar of the Pharaohs, but without a goal against the Congo.

In the 25th minute, Ahmed Hijazi lost the first real opportunity for the Pharaohs, breaking through a good and occasional injury to the West Bromwich defender, who fired in the Congo defender to bounce the ball to Bifoma.

Higadi suffered a rebound and Padilla received a warning after Salah was blocked. The Congolese team became a fierce attack on the Pharaohs' defenses through the dangerous right wing, Dizon Delarjee, who broke through more than once and moved to Befuma.

Ramadan Subhi slowed down to exploit the fast-paced Salah, who hit the defender Mayomobo.

The Congolese keeper came up with a shot from Salah, before the first half ended without a goal.

The second half began with quiet attempts from Egypt, but the Congolese team almost managed to snatch the goal of progress, through the start of dangerous Delarji, who shot and brilliantly urban and saved the situation.

Salah passed a dangerous ball deep into the defense to Saleh Juma, but he wasted it oddly in the keeper's hand.

Egypt coach Hector Cooper, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, was replaced by Saleh Jumaa in the 55th minute.

Egypt intensified their offensive pressure, with an attempt by Trezeguet, then cross without danger.

In the 62nd minute, Mohamed Salah managed to make it through a long-range pass from Nadi, who was taken away by defender Padilla.

The referee shrugged off a penalty kick, after the match against Trezeguet.

The Congolese defense went off the crossbar from Salah, while Rabia missed a header near the post.

The Congolese team returned to the attack, but with no danger on goal, while Cooper made his second change, with Amr Gamal dropping instead of Coca in the 75th minute.

Salah missed a serious chance to score through a shot from the goalkeeper to make Ramadan pass over the crossbar.

Copper, Ahmed Mohammedi, instead of Ramadan Subhi, before substitute Arnold Boko scored in the 87th minute, from a dangerous cross, with no follow-up by the Pharaohs' defense.

At the last minute, Egypt intensified their pressure to win the match. Mahmoud Trezeguet was given a penalty in the time of injury rather than lost. Salah scored the goal of the historic victory and the referee gave the final whistle, announcing Egypt's qualification for the World Cup.