The Ivorians emerged as 4-2 aggregate winners, but it took a
Salomon Kalou goal deep into stoppage time to make sure of their place in
Brazil.
A Moussa Sow penalty late in the game had put Senegal within one
strike of taking the place themselves.
The 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists missed a golden chance
seconds before Kalou struck on the counter-attack.
The equaliser was barely deserved but Ivorians will give that
little thought as they begin to make plans for next summer's tournament in Brazil.
In both 2006 and 2010, the Elephants were placed in tough groups
so they will be hoping for kinder opposition when the draw for the finals is
made on 6 December.
They qualify unbeaten but that record was in serious danger
after a largely lifeless display by Sabri Lamouchi's side. The match was played
in Morocco after Senegal werebarred from
playing in Dakar following a riot at a Nations Cup qualifier
against the Ivorians last year.
Denied home advantage, the 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists
nevertheless forced much of the play, after coach Alain Giresse made five
changes to the side that lost 3-1 in last month's opening leg in Abidjan.
Having overlooked Chelsea striker Demba Ba for the tie, the
Frenchman continued to surprise by dropping regular captain Mohamed Diame.
But it was one of those who retained his starting place, Dame
Ndoye, who had the first chance, his header goalwards acrobatically cleared by
Didier Drogba.
Denmark-based Ndoye further troubled Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar
Barry with a clever free-kick from a tight angle, before the Senegalese
appealed in vain for a penalty after Salif Sane's overhead kick hit the hands
of Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso.
Senegal almost led moments into the second half when Papiss
Cisse pounced on some sloppy defending from Sol Bamba only to see his
close-range effort hit Barry's standing foot - more by luck than design for the
Ivorian.
Just as it seemed the 'hosts' were never going to get a break,
they were handed a lifeline when Drogba was adjudged to have hauled down Sadio
Mane, the Senegalese falling easily after a tug on his shoulder.
Substitute Sow was the designated penalty taker and, despite the
enormous pressure, the Fenerbahce striker sent Barry the wrong way from the
spot.
That left Senegal needing just one more goal to qualify on the
away goals rule and they set up camp in the final third as they sought to
exploit a rare lethargy from the Ivorians.
As the game entered stoppage time, they had the chance to go 2-0
up and reach the World Cup but a goalmouth scramble was eventually cleared.
Seconds later, the Elephants went route one and after Yaya Toure
teed up Kalou, the veteran international made no mistake as he drilled past
Bouna Coundoul for a goal that was celebrated across Ivory Coast.
The Ivorians joined Saturday's earlier qualifiers Nigeria, who eased
past Ethiopia, and there are three African places still to be
decided.
On Sunday, Cameroon host Tunisia while Tuesday's final day of
action sees Burkina Faso take a narrow lead to Algeria while Egypt need to
overturn five goals to overcome 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana
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