It was another hotly-contested round of fixtures (March 29) as the international break concluded with important places at the 2022 Qatar World Cup up for grabs.
A feast of Watford players featured in key roles for their countries, and when Morocco and DR Congo met the Hornets had representatives starting for both nations.
Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Adam Masina and Imrân Louza secured their place at the World Cup after a 4-1 Morocco victory [5-2 on aggregate] in the second leg, with Edo Kayembe lining up opposite his club teammates. Masina started the match at left-back and Kayembe began in midfield, while Louza remained amongst the substitutes.
Elsewhere, Ismaïla Sarr played a vital role for Senegal as they got past Egypt in a tense affair that went all the way to penalties. After a 1-0 Egyptian victory in the first leg, it would take only four minutes for Senegal to level the score on aggregate, but the match went all the way with the scoreline deadlocked.
Sarr remained on the pitch for the full 120 minutes, stepping up to take Senegal’s third penalty which he powered past the Egyptian goalkeeper to open the scoring in the shootout. One of this weekend’s (April 2) opponents, Liverpool’s Sadio Mané, scored the winning penalty to secure Senegal’s place in Qatar.
Following a tight first leg that ended goalless, Nigeria and Ghana met for the decider at the Abuja National Stadium. All of Watford’s representatives started the match as William Troost-Ekong, Emmanuel Dennis and Peter Etebo took to the pitch.
Arsenal’s Thomas Partey scored the opener for the away side before Watford’s Troost-Ekong levelled from the penalty spot. However, despite the Super Eagles pressing hard for a winner, Ghana advanced to the World Cup on the away goals rule.
In Europe, Joshua King produced a spectacular display as the Hornets striker scored a hat-trick for Norway in a 9-0 triumph over Armenia in an international friendly. King’s first was from the spot to double the lead before he headed in Norway’s fourth and notched his third, and Norway’s sixth, from a set-piece on the hour mark.
The Golden Boys’ centre-half Craig Cathcart played 90 minutes as Northern Ireland lost 1-0 to Hungary in an exhibition match in Belfast, with Roland Sallai’s strike proving to be the difference.
Meanwhile, full-back Hassane Kamara started his first match for Ivory Coast since November 2021 against England at Wembley Stadium. Despite putting in a commendable display, the 10-man visitors lost 3-0 to the Three Lions.
Daniel Bachmann started between the sticks for Austria against Scotland in another exhibition tie. It was an enthralling game, with Scotland scoring two before Austria responded with two late goals to level the match.
