Senegal vs. Egypt Predictions: Mane to drag Senegalese back into this crucial clash

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.

Egypt come into this second leg on the verge of a partial revenge over their great African rivals. Progression here wouldn't fully make up for their heartbreaking loss in Yaounde but would go some way to easing the pain. Saliou Ciss's own goal via a Mo Salah shot that rebounded off the crossbar, has given the Pharoahs a slim advantage heading into the game in Dakar. 

50,000 fervent Senegalese fans will cram into the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium on Tuesday evening, desperate to see the current African champions turn this tie around and get in the World Cup draw on Friday. 

Senegal will be without defender Abdou Diallo who left the first leg injured after just 14 minutes and will likely be replaced by Pape Abou Cisse here. 

Egypt are missing injured Mohamed Abdelmonem and the suspended Mahmoud Hamdi El Wensh.

Senegal simply have to win here. The Egyptian's are extremely well organised and are notoriously difficult to break down but The Lions of Teranga do have the quality to get on the scoresheet via Mane, Diedhiou and Sarr. In both their last two games versus Egypt, Senegal have had more shots and shots on target than them and I expect this to continue here. I am under no illusion that the Senegalese will come out and dispatch the Pharoah's, but I think they will start fast in front of their home fans and at least level up this tie. Perhaps we're heading for another bout of extra time and penalties between these two old foes?

The big games call for the big players. Salah was the spark that led to the goal in the first leg and I think we will see Sadio Mane rise to the occasion here in front of his own adoring fans. Mane needs just one more goal to pass Henri Camara as his country's leading scorer and I expect him to notch it here. The 5/2 on offer for him to score in the 90 minutes is too good to turn down. He's as short as 6/4 at bet365 to do so.