Karl Toko Ekambi scored the vital winner to hand the Indomitable Lions an away goals victory, with the tie finishing 2-2 on aggregate. CAPTAIN Eric choupou Mouting had opened the scores early to draw Cameroon level with Algeria who had taken a one goal advantage obtained in Douala last Friday.
It looked an uphill task but the Indomitable Lions galvanized by Federation President and coach Rigobert Song, who had been used to such perilous missions before kept their fighting spirit to stun the Algerians ranked as the best team in Africa.
Ghana dumps Nigeria, Senegal does a double on Egypt
Ghana qualified for their fourth World Cup after defeating West African rivals Nigeria on away goals in Abuja.
The visitors took the lead after just 11 minutes when Thomas Partey fired from range towards goal. The effort looked to be relatively comfortable for Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, but the shot-stopper made an awful mess of the shot to gift the Black Stars a vital away goal.
Nigeria drew level on the night just 10 minutes later when captain William Troost-Ekong dispatched from the penalty spot following a VAR check on Denis Odoi’s challenge on Ademola Lookman.
Augustine Eguavoen’s side thought they had completed the turnaround just before half-time, but Victor Osimhen’s goal was ruled out for offside by VAR.
The hosts were unable to break down an impenetrable Black Stars defence in the second half, meaning they will sit out their first World Cup since 2006.
Senegal meanwhile, defeated Egypt 3-1 on penalties to book their place in Qatar. Boulaye Dia scored in the fourth minute as the Lions of Teranga won the second leg 1-0 for a 1-1 aggregate draw.
The shootout began with four misses – including from both captains Mohamed Salah and Kalidou Koulibaly, before Sadio Mane sealed the win to repeat his heroics in last month’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
Sadio Mane delivered the winning spot kick as Senegal edged Egypt 3-1 on penalties at the end of a tempestuous World Cup playoff second leg in Dakar on Tuesday to win a place at the finals in Qatar later this year.
Boulaye Dia scored in the fourth minute as Senegal won the second leg 1-0 for a 1-1 aggregate draw at the new Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, which was packed with a capacity 50,000 crowd hours before kickoff.
The nerve-filled shootout started with four misses, including from both captains – Kalidou Koulibaly and then Mohamed Salah – but Mane won the shootout, reprising his heroics in last month’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
Egypt had netted a fourth-minute goal last Friday in the first leg in Cairo but that advantage was quickly eroded on Tuesday.
Idrissa Gana Gueye’s free kick was cleared in the wrong direction by Egypt defender Ahmed Fattouh, straight into the path of Dia, who needed two attempts to bundle it over from close range.
In the other matches, the Atlas Lions of morocco walloped DR Congo to book their place on a 5 -2 aggregate. Tunisia knocked out Mali following a goalless tie in Tunis. The Tunisians had pulled a one all draw in Bamako on Friday.