Cristiano Ronaldo has urged local fans to make their presence felt at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Tuesday when Portugal host giant-killers North Macedonia in a playoff tie that will secure the winners a place in this year’s World Cup finals in Qatar.

North Macedonia created a huge shock last week when they eliminated Italy, the winners of four World Cup titles, from the running to secure a place in the 32-team tournament. Hence the Portugal talisman has called on supporters to ensure they do not suffer the same fate. “I urge the fans: I want hell breaking loose at Dragao,” Ronaldo told a news conference on Monday.

“I went to bed last night (Sunday) thinking that I want the stadium to shut down the music for our national anthem and let the fans sing it in a cappella to show our passion, our strength and union around the objective of reaching the World Cup.

“If our fans show up the way they can, we will win on Tuesday.” The 50,000 tickets for the game sold out in hours as big queues formed at the stadium’s box offices and a major supermarket chain around the country on Sunday. Many fans were left disappointed at being unable to get tickets for 10 to 15 euros. Tickets are now fetching up to 200 euros on the black market.

The Manchester United striker said they were “very confident” about taking on the North Macedonians. “It will be the game of our lives too,” said the Portugal captain, who dismissed suggestions that they were facing “an easier opponent”.

“...If Portugal play at our highest level, we can win against any opponent in the world. So that’s why I insist with my call to the fans: We need your full support on Tuesday. If you are with us, we will win the game.”

Ronaldo was, however, irritated when asked if Qatar would be his last World Cup if Portugal qualified for the finals. “I’m tired of those questions,” a visibly angry Ronaldo said. “If I want to keep playing, I will. If I want to stop, I will stop. I’m the one who is in charge of those decisions.”

Close fights in Africa

Algeria and Tunisia are heavily fancied to qualify on Tuesday but the outcome of the other three African playoffs for Qatar look likely to go down to the wire. The two north African neighbours both won away in the first leg of their playoff ties on Friday and are expected to best utilise home advantage in their return legs.

Algeria are 1-0 up over Cameroon while Tunisia profited from a horror own goal in Bamako to win away over Mali.

The head-to-head clash between Liverpool teammates Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah has captivated the continent in the build-up to the showdown between Senegal and Egypt and they will reprise that rivalry again in Dakar.

Nigeria held Ghana to a goalless draw in a match riddled with errors and both sides will feel they have a chance to emerge triumphant in the return leg at Abuja.

But the Democratic Republic of Congo, who qualified back in 1974 when they were still known as Zaire, will know the odds are stacked against them in Casablanca against Morocco.