Sadio Mane and Emmanuel Mayuka wrap up their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns Wednesday night with both Saints players now confirmed to have qualified for the finals in Equatorial Guinea.
Mane’s Senegal secured a 1-0 victory in Egypt at the weekend that meant they were through regardless of how they got on against Botswana.
Mayuka’s Zambia also secured a 1-0 win, this against Mozambique.
It has now been confirmed that that result was enough for Zambia to make it through to the finals.
Even though Mozambique could potentially draw level on points, with Zambia facing group winners Cape Verde, and could also have a superior goal difference, that will not matter.
The next deciding factor in the ranking of the teams has been confirmed by CAF to be the head-to-head record.
Zambia and Mozambique drew their first game 0-0 before what has proved a decisive 1-0 win on Saturday.
It means that Mayuka and Mane will both be missing for around a month early next year to compete in the finals.
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