Santos player Dipsy Selolwane got Botswana's crucial second

The Zebras were rarely troubled in a match which they dominated from the start - although a late Mauritania goal made for an uncomfortable last 15 minutes for them.

Botswana began the scoring on 19 minutes, when a series of corners for the home side ended with Modiri Marumo getting on the end of one and striking a sharp shot inside the box that hit the back of the net.

And they doubled their advantage five minutes before half time with an absolutely cracking goal from Brazil-based Dipsy Selolwane - a long-range effort from outside the penalty area the flew into the top corner.

Mauritania had been poor throughout the first half, but they emerged much more competitive in the second, and dominated for a long period after the break.

Botswana seemed to have ridden out the storm, however - until Yoann Langlet, who plays his club football in the tiny European principality of Liechtenstein, netted to give Botswana a nervous end to the match.

The result means that if Egypt fail to win against Burundi on Sunday, Botswana could qualify at the expense of the Pharaohs with victory over them in Cairo in the last round of fixtures.