An injury-time winner from Sadio Mane secured Senegal’s qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) while Angola, DR Congo and Egypt have also reached the finals with two rounds of matches to spare.
The Teranga Lions were heading for a goalless draw away against Malawi before former Liverpool forward Mane, who now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, struck in the 96th minute in Lilongwe.
Senegal move on to 10 points in Group L alongside Burkina Faso and have joined their fellow West Africans in booking a place at the 2025 Nations Cup in Morocco.
The 2021 Afcon winners progressed despite parting company with long-serving coach Aliou Cisse earlier this month.
There were surprises elsewhere on Tuesday as reigning continental champions Ivory Coast fell to a shock 1-0 loss away against Sierra Leone while Ghana are on the brink of elimination after defeat by Sudan.
The Black Stars remain third in Group F with just two points from four games, and qualification is now out of their hands.
The West Africans must now win their remaining games against Angola and Niger next month and hope that Sudan, who have seven points, lose both of theirs.
The final two rounds of qualifiers will be held next month while the 2025 Nations Cup is scheduled to begin on 21 December next year, with the final on 18 January 2026.
Egypt through without Salah
Record seven-time continental champions Egypt made it four wins from four in Group C despite the absence of captain Mohamed Salah, who was released early from international duty.
The Pharaohs triumphed 1-0 against Mauritania as Ibrahim Adel struck in the 85th minute in Nouakchott.
DR Congo also sealed their spot at the finals as Meschack Elia scored twice late on to give them a 2-0 away win in Tanzania.
The Leopards, who finished fourth at the 2023 finals earlier this year, have won all four games in Group H without conceding.
Uganda moved to the brink of a place at the finals after a 2-0 win in South Sudan, but will have to wait until next month for confirmation after Congo held South Africa to a 1-1 draw in Brazzaville elsewhere in Group K.
Five-time Afcon winners Cameroon and Algeria picked up their tickets for the 24-team tournament in North Africa with victories on Monday.
Boris Enow gave Cameroon a 1-0 win over Kenya in neutral Kampala while an 18th-minute penalty from Remy Bensebaini was enough for Algeria to triumph 1-0 against Togo in Lome.
Ghana on brink of elimination
Angola extended their perfect start in Group F as Zine’s first-minute effort gave the Palancas Negras a 1-0 victory away against Niger in neutral Casablanca.
However, Ghana are in danger of failing to qualify for the Nations Cup for the first time since 2004 after slumping to a 2-0 away defeat against Sudan.
Fielding a strong team, captained by West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus and including Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth, the Black Stars were undone by two quick second-half goals.
Sudan forward Ahmed Al-Tash bundled the ball over the line for their first in the 62nd minute after Saif Teiri’s shot rebounded off the post.
Mohamed Abdelrahman doubled the lead just three minutes later, running onto a through ball from Ahmed Yousif and slotting past Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.
The match was played in the Libyan city of Benghazi as Sudan cannot play at home because of the civil war in the country.
Sudan, coached by former Ghana boss Kwesi Appiah, last played at the Nations Cup during the 2021 edition in Cameroon.
Afcon 2025 qualified teams
Morocco (hosts), Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Senegal