Liverpool’s Salah and Mane face off for World Cup spot after African qualifying draw
The Liverpool forwards are in opposite halves of the draw, with Salah’s Egypt up against Cote d’Ivoire in the last 16 after only finishing second in their group and Mane’s Senegal taking on Cape Verde after winning theirs.
A clash in the final would be massive for both men, but they have another all-or-nothing game after they return to their clubs, after the draw was made for Africa’s World Cup qualifying play-offs.
Five head-to-head games will determine Africa’s representatives in Qatar, and one of Salah and Mane will miss out after their nations were drawn together.
Both Egypt and Senegal won their qualifying groups without losing a game, but a change to the qualifying rules means 10 group winners are split into five home-and-away play-off games.
The first and second legs will take place during the March international break, on March 24 and March 29 respectively.
The four other play-offs see Cameroon take on Algeria, Nigeria up against Ghana, Mali versus Tunisia and Morocco – who won all six of their group games – facing the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Salah and Mane both made it to the last World Cup in Russia, though Egypt and Senegal were eliminated in the group stages.
They aren’t the only stars at risk of missing out in 2022, with Portugal and Italy – the last two winners of the European Championships – on a collision course of their own if both make it through their play-off semi-finals.
2018 quarter-finalists Russia and Sweden could also end up facing off, while Uruguay have some work to do to make sure of their spot after also reaching the last eight in Russia.
Both of Salah and Mane have scored winning goals for their national sides at this year’s AFCON to help them reach the last 16.
Mane’s penalty against Zimbabwe was Senegal’s only group stage goal, but they topped their group with five points after a 1-0 win and two goalless draws.
Meanwhile, Salah broke the deadlock for Egypt against Guinea-Bissau, and a return of six points from a possible nine saw them finish behind Nigeria in their group.
Senegal are back in action on Tuesday afternoon, with Egypt resuming their tournament 24 hours later, as both nations aim to go all the way at the continental tournament.
If either Salah or Mane reach the final, they will be unavailable for Liverpool when Jurgen Klopp’s side take on Cardiff City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
