Egypt secured a 1-0 win over Senegal in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualification third-round, first-leg match at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo on Friday night.
The victory avenged the Pharaohs' defeat to the Lions of Teranga in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final last month. The two teams will now clash in the second-leg encounter in Senegal on Tuesday with a spot in the World Cup finals in Qatar at stake.
The Pharaohs applied some early pressure on the Lions of Teranga's defence and they were gifted a goal just four minutes into the game after a good move by the seven-time African champions.
Mohamed Salah's shot hit the woodwork before rebounding off Saliou Ciss and into the back of the net as the Senegal full-back netted an unfortunate own-goal to hand Egypt a 1-0 lead.
Senegal had to find a way to level matters and their first real chance of the game fell for their talisman, Sadio Mane, after he dribbled past Mohamed Abdel-Moneim with halftime approaching.
The Liverpool FC star ran towards the edge of the area unopposed, but his curling shot failed to hit the target and the score was 1-0 to Egypt at the interval.
Mane was a constant threat to the Pharaohs' defence after the restart as he beat his markers and delivered crosses which were cleared away by the hosts' defence.
Aliou Cisse, the Senegal head coach, refreshed his attack just after the hour-mark - introducing Bamba Dieng as the reigning African champions looked to level matters.
The hosts were able to launch late attacks in the latter stages of the game and Mahmoud Trezeguet's tame shot was saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from close range.
Substitute Omar Marmoush had a chance to snatch a late goal after combining with Salah, but his low shot hit the side-netting and in the encounter ended in a 1-0 victory in favour of Egypt.
Egypt (1) 1 (Cisse OG 4')
Senegal 0
Egypt: El-Shenawy, Gaber, El-Wensh, Abdel-Moneim (Ibrahim 39'), Fattouh, Fathi, Elneny, El-Sulaya, Trezeguet (Dunga 90'+2), Salah, Mohamed (Marmoush 72').
Senegal: E. Mendy, B. Sarr, Koulibaly, Diallo (Cisse 14'), Ciss, Gueye, Kouyate (P. Gueye 90'), N. Mendy, I. Sarr, Diedhiou (Dieng 62'), Mane.