An injury-time penalty from Liverpool’s Mo Salah ensured Egypt qualified for next year’s World Cup finals in Russia after beating Congo 2-1 on Sunday to move into an unassailable position at the top of their group with one match still to complete.

The Pharaohs, who have not reached the World Cup finals since 1990, needed victory in Alexandria to guarantee their place next summer after Uganda and Ghana drew on Saturday. They looked on course when Salah put Héctor Cúper’s side ahead just after the hour, only for Arnold Bouka Moutou to equalise with his first international goal, , firing past 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam Al Hadary with three minutes left.

But a late penalty from Salah ensured Egypt will be in Russia, making them the second African nation to qualify after Nigeria’s victory over Zambia on Saturday.

Poland sealed their first World Cup spot since the 2006 tournament after an early onslaught and a late flourish, including a goal from the excellent Robert Lewandowski, gave them a 4-2 home win over Montenegro.

The result left Poland top of Group E with 25 points from 10 games, five ahead of second-placed Denmark who sealed a play-off berth after a 1-1 home draw with Romania despite Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen scoring for a sixth successive match.