African World Cup Qualifiers: Morocco, Senegal one win away from last phase of qualifying

While Monaco beat Guinea Bissau 3-0 in Casablanca to open up a five-point lead in Group I, Senegal defeated its closest challenger Namibia 4-1 in Group H.

File picture: Sadio Mane was amongst the scorers in Senegal's 4-1 win over Namibia in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

Morocco and Senegal moved to within one victory of advancing to the last phase of African World Cup qualifying after wins on Saturday put them in commanding positions in their qualifying groups.

Morocco beat Guinea Bissau 3-0 in Casablanca to open up a five-point lead in Group I and will secure top place if it beats Guinea in Rabat on Tuesday.

Sadio Mane was among the scorers as Senegal beat its closest challenger Namibia 4-1 in Group H and if it does the same in the reverse fixture on Tuesday will also be assured of winning the group.

But the expected battle for supremacy in Group G remained tight at the halfway stage after South Africa won away in Ethiopia to keep one point ahead of Ghana, who was home victor over Zimbabwe.

Only the group winner from each of Africa's 10 groups advances to March's playoffs, where the five African representatives for Qatar 2022 will be decided.

READ: European World Cup Qualifiers: Denmark, England cruise to comfortable wins

A horror blunder from Ethiopia goalkeeper Fasil Gebremichael saw him let Tebogo Mokoena's freekick slip through his hands and gift South Africa the halftime lead.

Although the home side was level soon after the break, South Africa scored twice in the final 20 minutes through Mothobi Mvala and Evidence Makgopa to move to seven points.

Ghana, with Milovan Rajevac returning as coach, was back at full strength for its game against Zimbabwe at Cape Coast and romped to a 3-1 triumph with goals from Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey and captain Andre Ayew.

Ayoub El Kaabi scored twice and Aymen Barkok the other for Morocco, playing a second game in three days and resting some of its key players against Guinea Bissau.

Morocco has a 100 per cent record after three games with Guinea Bissau second on four points and Guinea on three. Guinea was held to a 2-2 draw by Sudan earlier on Saturday and must beat Morocco on Tuesday to stop the north Africans from winning the group.

Senegal and Namibia were both wasteful but still managed to conjure up five goals in their entertaining clash in Dakar, with Mane among those guilty of squandering gift-wrapped chances.

They are eight more African qualifiers on Sunday and more games to come on Monday and Tuesday.