Egypt scored a 95th-minute penalty to beat Congo 2-1 in Alexandria and so reach the World Cup for the first time in over a quarter of a century.
Mohamed Salah, the hero of the night, scored both goals in a win that qualified them for their third finals - and first since 1990.
. @HHShkMohd congratulates #Egypt after qualifying for World Cup 2018 pic.twitter.com/rztbWVSDZ9
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 8, 2017
The euphoria was intense since Arnold Bouka-Moutou had stunned the hosts when equalising for Congo after 88 minutes.
But the Egyptians' World Cup hoodoo ended as Salah held his nerve late on.
The former Ivory Coast captain, Didier Drogba, twitted to congratulate the Liverpool attacker for ending Egypt's wait for World Cup qualification.
Proud of my brother @22mosalah u became a real leader of a Nation 🇪🇬 reminds me of Côte d’Ivoire in 2006 🇨🇮🇨🇮#thebeautifulgame #russia2018 https://t.co/ZAPEgdmBkw
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) October 8, 2017
Drogba lauded former team-mate Salah after the Liverpool and Egypt star guided his country to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.
Egypt had not featured at the World Cup since 1990 but Salah ended that drought thanks to his dramatic 95th-minute penalty in Sunday's 2-1 victory over Congo.
Millions of breaths held as Moh.Salah ushers #Egypt to #WorldCup2018 #Russia #????_???? #???_??_???_??????_???? pic.twitter.com/8vGRwKtNNo
— shaimaa khalil BBC (@Shaimaakhalil) October 8, 2017