Egypt vs. Senegal Predictions: Another stalemate in Cairo

In a repeat of last month's AFCON 2021 final , Egypt take on Senegal in the CAF World Cup play offs. We've asked our AFCON specialist @OddsT3rrier to preview this one and provide us with his best bets.

It's less than eight weeks since these two African power houses faced off in Yaounde, Cameroon in a dour 0-0 draw that ended with Senegal winning the AFCON title for the first time, on penalties. On Friday evening in Cairo, they face off again in what some might see as an even more important tie. A two-legged winner takes all trip to the World Cup Finals in Qatar. 

This tie offers a chance of immediate redemption for Egypt, Mo Salah and Carlos Queiroz to get one over their AFCON conquerors and they will be desperate to take a first innings lead into the second leg in Dakar on Tuesday evening. 

Given the short turnaround time since the final, it's highly likely we will see very similar line ups here. Egypt will make one change as Ahmed Hegazi has been omitted from the squad and will likely be replaced by Mohamed Abdelmonem in centre defence. The Lions Of Teranga may well go unchanged with Sadio Mane leading the line . 

In boxing parlance, will it be repeat or revenge?

I'm not gonna sugar coat this. I'm expecting another tight, attritional game. With so much at stake and a 2nd leg to come then I can't see either side going gung ho here. We all know how manager Carlos Queiroz set up the Pharoahs at the Africa Cup of Nations and I've no reason to believe he will change his style in such a crucial match. Similarly Aliou Cisse will be more than happy with a draw to take back home to Dakar so will not be coming out all-attack. With that in mind my first selection is for it to be a draw at HT and a draw at FT. 

I'm doubling down on this theory in the second pick. Despite both teams possessing one of the world's best strikers I just can't see this being a goalfest. Senegal didnt go behind at any stage during AFCON and Egypt were goalless in four of their seven games at the tournament in reaching the final. Senegal also saw three 0-0 draws in their run to the trophy so were hardly free scoring. 

The 9/2 on offer looks too big to ignore.