Senegal have booked their place at next year’s World Cup after they defeated South Africa 2-0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane in what was a crucial qualifying clash in Group D.

Two first half goals from West Ham striker Diafra Sakho and a Mjabiluse Mkhize own goal was enough to give Aliou Cisse’s men the victory they needed to guarantee their place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The win took Senegal’s point tally to an unassailable 11 points from 5 games while South Africa stay rooted to the bottom of the table in Group D with a paltry 4 points.

Both sides meet again on Tuesday in what would be a dead rubber while the other group members namely Burkina Faso and Cape Verde also meet with the knowledge that both teams can no longer qualify for Russia 2018.

Senegal would be making their 2nd appearance at the World Cup after their debut at the 2002 edition in South Korea and Japan. They reached the quarterfinals before losing to Turkey becoming only the 2nd African country after Cameroon (1990 edition) to achieve that though Ghana have also matched that feat (2010 edition).