Amartey & Mendy Heading To World Cup Finals
- Daniel Amartey helps Ghana qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals
- The Black Stars drew 1-1 with Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho's Nigeria, going through on away goals
- Papy Mendy played 80 minutes as Senegal beat Egypt on penalties to reach Qatar
- Kasper Schmeichel made his 80th appearance for Denmark in a 3-0 win over Serbia, while Jannik Vestergaard also featured
- Youri Tielemans captained Belgium to a 3-0 win over Burkina Faso
- Çağlar Söyüncü registered an assist in Turkey's 3-2 loss to Italy
- Sammy Braybrooke and Ben Nelson both started for England Under-18s on Monday
Amartey played from the off for the Black Stars, while Lookman made his first Nigeria start and Iheanacho was unused from the bench in Abuja, where Thomas Partey’s opener was cancelled out by William Troost-Ekong’s penalty.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed by VAR in the first half, however it was Partey’s strike that would send Amartey’s nation through on away goals, following a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
On the same evening, midfielder Mendy - a winner of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year - completed 80 minutes for Senegal, who beat Egypt 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw across two legs to book their spot in the World Cup finals.
Boulaye Dia scored after just three minutes in Dakar, and after the match ended 1-0 in normal time, a goalless extra-time followed. Then, penalties from Ismaïla Sarr, Bamba Dieng and Said Mané sent the Lions of Teranga through.
Schmeichel and Jannik Vestergaard, meanwhile, both added to their international experience during a 3-0 success over Serbia in Copenhagen, where strikes from Joakim Mæhle, Jesper Lindstrøm and Christian Eriksen secured the success.
The Danes have already qualified for winter’s 2022 World Cup, having swept aside their Group F opponents by winning nine of their 10 matches and conceding just three goals in the process.
Later in the day, midfielder Youri Tielemans captained Belgium as they registered a convincing 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso in Anderlecht courtesy of goals from Hans Vanaken, Leandro Trossard and Christian Benteke.
Roberto Martínez’s outfit have also qualified for the Qatar finals after winning Group E with an unbeaten record of six victories and two draws.
Defender Çağlar Söyüncü also featured on Tuesday, playing 90 minutes and assisting a goal for Turkey in their narrow 3-2 defeat by Italy.
Former Foxes loanee Cengiz Ünder scored after four minutes, however Giacomo Raspadori's brace and Bryan Cristante's effort put Italy 3-1 up Söyüncü set up Serdar Dursun for Turkey's second of the night, but the visitors held on for the win.
On Monday, Sammy Braybrooke captained England’s Under-18s, with Ben Nelson in defence, to a 3-3 draw with Denmark Under-18s in Marbella. The Young Lions were at one stage 3-0 down, but a brilliant fight back saw them claim a draw in unlikely circumstances.
A day earlier, meanwhile, Wanya Marcal-Madivadua was unused from the bench during Portugal Under-20s 1-1 draw with France Under-20s. The Development Squad midfielder came off the bench in a 3-0 win over Czech Republic Under-20s last week.