FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Senegal, Morocco advance to Play Offs
Famara Diedhiou scored a hat-trick to propel Senegal into the final phase of African World Cup qualifying play-off while Morocco followed suit later in the day as they guaranteed top spot in Group I.
Diedhiou headed Senegal ahead after 22 minutes against Namibia in Johannesburg and added two more goals in the second half for a 3-1 victory.
The win gave Senegal an unassailable lead in Group H, with a 100 per cent record after winning four games and with two games to spare in November.
The game was played in South Africa due to refurbishment work at Namibia’s home stadium in Windhoek.
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Morocco then beat Guinea 4-1 in Rabat to ensure they finish top of Group I and will be one of the 10 group winners competing in the playoffs in March for five African places at the World Cup finals in Qatar.
Selim Amallah scored twice for Morocco after Ayoub El Kaabi gave them an early lead as they also kept up a 100 per cent record winning four games with two games to spare in November.
Sofiane Boufal scored the fourth for the north African giants at the death as they look set for the playoffs next year aiming to qualify for the second successive time with their last outing at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
