World Cup qualifiers

Seven more places at the World Cup are up for grabs on Tuesday, with two ties in Europe and five in Africa.

Merveille Bokadi came on for DR Congo in the first leg and is likely to start at left-back. They have a great record at home and are strong favourites to reach back-to-back World Cups. Prediction: Tunisia to qualify They only need to avoid defeat at home to book a spot at the World Cup. It won’t be plainsailing though; they have only beaten Cameroon twice in their history. Abdoulaye Doucouré lasted just 45 minutes of his Mali debut but the Everton midfielder is likely to keep his place. The Mali centre-back scored an own goal in the 36th minute and was then sent off shortly before the break. Mali have never qualified for a World Cup and they had the worst possible start to this tie on Friday, with Moussa Sissako having a personal nightmare. They have a good record against Nigeria, having won three and drawn two of their last five matches in the last 15 years. Centre-back Mohamed Abdelmonem, one of the stars of Afcon, is expected to miss out after he underwent surgery to fix a broken nose, and his defensive partner, Mahmoud Hamdi El Wensh, is suspended. Senegal and Egypt are facing off for the third time in two months. If North Macedonia qualify, this would be their first appearance at the World Cup. Blagoja Milevski’s side were without the suspended pair Eljif Elmas and Tihomir Kostadinov against Italy, though the duo should return to the midfield in Porto. Boban Nikolov was forced off against Italy and will be assessed. Marcus Danielson put in a solid shift at right-back against the Czech Republic and could keep his spot, despite Krafth’s return. Poland were given a bye following Russia’s disqualification from the competition by Fifa due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. To warm up for this tie, they played a friendly against Scotland at Hampden on Thursday night.

SENEGAL 1-0 EGYPT (1-1 agg., 3-1 pens.): Mohamed Salah will play no part at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Liverpool ...

The result means Senegal are one of the five African nations who will travel to the World Cup, while Ghana also won their qualifier against Nigeria. The Pharaohs watched their 1-0 aggregate lead from last Friday's first leg in Cairo evaporate just four minutes into the match as Boulaye Dia's shot deflected off Hamdi Fathi and trickled the over the line following a set piece. However, Mane made no mistake from 12 yards to ensure his country will be represented in Qatar this winter, having also scored the winning penalty in the AFCON final.

Two more nations from Europe have booked their tickets to 2022's winter World Cup in a night of contrasting emotions.

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Two further European nations will qualify on Tuesday, as Poland take on Sweden while Portugal – Euro 2016 winners – play host to North Macedonia. Despite being ...

Portugal will be hopeful of sparing Lineker’s blushes with a victory in Porto, but the presenter’s stance on the qualification process appears to have already been successfully dismantled. It was highlighted to Lineker that not only did North Macedonia beat Germany, but that came on the same night as Georgia were seconds away from getting points against Spain, Malta drawing away to Slovakia, Latvia drawing in Turkey, Cyprus moving up to four points and Luxembourg beating the Republic of Ireland. Lineker replied to this by stating: “So what? It will be a historic encounter for North Macedonia, who have never previously competed at a World Cup tournament.

A goal down after the first leg, Senegal play host to the North African side. The teams go head to head for a place in World Cup draw, and it will be ...

Meanwhile, on the pitch, there have been a number of fouls since the goal, and the ball has spent more time out of play than it has in play. The defensive headed is terrible, and lands back in the centre of goal. The referee calls for the stretcher, and VAR is reviewing for a possible red card. 23rd min: The fouls have slowed down, and a football match has begun. 49th min: We're back underway, and it's a slightly more subdued start to the second half. It's just a warning from the man in the middle. 71st min: Almost an instant impact for Zizo. Salah has the ball on the right and lifts a dream ball into the area. 58th min: Mustapha Ghorbal, the referee, is doing well to keep a handle on things. 92nd min: The corner is just over Cisse's head, and Ismaila puts the ball back into the area. Egypt have a man down, and the hardest worked stretcher bearers in football are back in action. A Senegal player is down with cramp, while an Egyptian player looks to be down, after being fallen on top of by Pape Sarr. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané spend the break having a chat. Senegal host Egypt in the second leg of their World Cup qualifier, hoping to around a one goal deficit.

Here is Sportsmail's live blog for updates on the crunch World Cup qualifiers as Senegal take on Egypt and Nigeria play Ghana.

Senegal have started like a house on fire and the atmosphere is electric. Egypt grew into it, but the hosts were more threatening and will fancy their chances of adding another after the interval. A green laser is also being shined on visiting players and coaches. Egypt need to weather a storm here early on. Senegal then clear and eventually win a throw-in. Sarr puts an inviting cross into the box and Cisse's attempt at a header goes wide. and the substitute comes close again! Egypt advance into the opposition box for the first time, but Trézéguet is unable to keep the ball in play and the brief chance goes begging. The hosts dispossess Egypt and embark on a counter-attack, but Ismaila Sarr's looping effort from the edge of the box is collected comfortably by El Shenawy. First big chance of the game for Egypt as Ahmed Fattoh is released through on goal, but his shot is kept out by Mendy and the ball eventually goes behind for a goal kick. Salah loses the ball on the halfway line and Senegal break, with Sarr finding Mane on the edge of the box. Sarr wins a free-kick for the hosts over on the right-hand side and it is taken quickly, but Gueye's shot from distance is skied well over the bar.

The Liverpool star had multiple laser pens shone in his face before missing a penalty in the defeat to Senegal…

The retina is very sensitive and is not made to cope with light of that intensity. “If I was a ball player I would be terrified. People have to realize this is not fun and games; it is serious stuff. “You are endangering someone’s vision. The only saving grace is that Salah wasn’t alone with the opening four penalties of the shootout all failing to find the back of the net. Nevertheless, clearly Egypt wanted to learn from the mistakes of the tournament in Cameroon as they moved their star man up the penalty order to ensure that he would get his chance in the sun.

Cristiano Ronaldo did not need to play the role of hyped-up promoter in order to explain the importance of this match for him and his country, but it seems ...

North Macedonia go on the attack but Pepe tackles Bardhi on the edge of the area and Portugal counter. North Macedonia will be kicking themselves for the manner in which they conceded but, on balance, Portugal have been the better side. Having witnessed the scenes of emotional devastation that followed Italy's defeat, Portugal know they have little room for complacency this evening. "For us, it's also a game of our lives. Ronaldo drifts across the box and latches onto a long ball up from the back, but is tackled. It was a fine goal, deadly and decisive, and the same could be said for the second. For a side ranked 67th in the world to defeat Italy, away from home, was by any measure one of the great shocks of international football. The victory also served a secondary purpose, which will be welcomed by all involved with United: it showed that Ronaldo and Fernandes can indeed thrive together, in the right setting. With considerable thanks to Fernandes, a 10th major tournament now awaits for Ronaldo, statistically the finest goalscorer in the history of international football. By that measure at least, Ronaldo lives on as a Portugal player. Fernandes struck twice, both of them Ronaldo-esque goals, to secure a deserved win for the better side on the night. Cristiano Ronaldo did not need to play the role of hyped-up promoter in order to explain the importance of this match for him and his country, but it seems he could not help himself.

The five African nations heading to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup were confirmed on Tuesday night. Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal will ...

The five African nations heading to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup were confirmed on Tuesday night. There was more drama in Algeria where Ahmed Touba scored in the 118th minute to leave Cameroon on the verge of elimination, only for Cameroon to hit back in the fourth minute of added time in extra time as Karl Toko Ekambi snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Africa's Five Teams Going To The Qatar World Cup Confirmed