by Staff Reporter

Egypt have booked their spot in the final round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying after coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Angola in a CAF second round fixture at the Estádio 11 de Novembro on Friday evening.

Palancas Negras were in control after 36 minutes in Luanda but the Pharaohs hit back to earn a valuable point and duly take up an unassailable lead atop Group F with one game to spare.

Angola hit the front in the 26th minute through Helder Costa and were offered a chance to double their advantage 10 minutes later after Akram Tawfik fouled an opposition player inside the penalty area. M’bala Nzola stepped up to the spot for the hosts and made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

Egypt hit back before the half-time break. Mohamed Salah teed up Mohamed Elneny who finished with aplomb to halve the deficit.

Tawfik then made up for his earlier error with a goal on the hour mark to earn the visitors the point they needed.

Angola (2) 2 (Costa 26′ Nzola pen. 36′)

Egypt (1) 2 (Elneny 45+1′. Tawfik 59′)

Angola: Marques; Buatu, Afonso, Carneiro, Gaspar, Bela (Lepua 66′), Estrela, Show (Balburdia 89′), Mateus (Zini 9′), Costa (Capita 89′), Nzola.

Egypt: El-Shenawy; Hegazy, Ashraf, El Fotouh (Alaa 90+3′), El Said (Fathi 46′), Soleya, Elneny, Tawfik, Salah, Sherif (Rayan 82′), Mohamed (Hamdy 46′)