WINDHOEK -- Senegal beat Namibia 5-0 at Windhoek's Independence stadium on Saturday to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in their history.

The Senegalese Lions finished top of African Group C, edging out Morocco on goal difference and Egypt, who could only draw with Algeria on Saturday, by two points.

After a slow start on a chilly afternoon, the Lions dominated the match.

As early as the second minute, Henry Camara sent in a dangerous cross that was blocked by Namibia's Congo Hindjou, and six minutes later El Hadji Diouf took possession in the Namibian penalty area but was adjudged offside.

Senegal took the lead after 15 minutes, though, when Henry Camara dribbled past the Namibian defence and laid the ball off to Pappa Thiaw, who flicked the ball through the legs of Namibian defender Steven Mbaisa and into the net as goalkeeper Danzyl Bruwer vainly appealed for handball.

Five minutes after the first goal, Thiaw turned provider, setting up El Hadji Diouf for the second goal of the match and his eighth in the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Namibia could have pulled one back in the 26th minute but Mogale Naruseb's free-kick went way over the crossbar, and in the 30th minute Patrick Nkontwana's head failed to connect with a cross just in front of the Senegalese goal.

Camara, the thorn in the flesh of the Namibian side all afternoon, again did the damage when he sent over another teasing cross that Thiaw converted to make it 3-0 after half an hour.

Although the Namibians finished the first half strongly, their efforts came to nothing as the visitors' defence held firm.

Senegal could have gone further ahead in the 55th minute when Diouf, from an acute angle, failed to head in a left-wing cross.

The Lions refused to rest on their laurels, though, forcing Namibian keeper and captain Bruwer to make a number of telling saves.

In the 69th minute, Thiaw received his second booking of the afternoon and was sent off after tackling Quinto Jacobs from behind.

Wanting to make full use of their one-man advantage, the Namibian side packed the Senegalese half but more solid defence denied them any clearcut scoring opportunities.

Instead, it was the visitors who got lucky in the 79th minute when Namibian defender Steven Mbaisa was adjudged to have fouled a Senegalese player in the penalty area.

The referee pointed to the spot from where Khalilou Fadiga converted to make the score 4-0, and Diouf added his second of the match to complete the rout.