Ghana edged South Africa 1-0 in Cape Coast on Sunday to leapfrog their opponent at the top of Group G and advance to the African World Cup play-offs, while DR Congo, who are bidding to reach a first World Cup since 1974, defeated Benin 2-0 in Kinshasa to also progress.
Andre Ayew scored the vital match-winner for Ghana after 33 minutes as Bafana Bafana suffered their first loss in the group.
Both Ghana and South Africa won 13 points in the group and after ending with the same goal difference, the Black Stars edged through courtesy of having scored one goal more than Bafana Bafana in the group (7-6).
South Africa have failed to qualify for the World Cup since becoming the first African hosts of the event in 2010.
Ghana, meanwhile, are now two games away from returning to the tournament for the first time since 2014 and for the fourth time overall.
Elsewhere in Kinshasa, Congo took an early lead against Benin through a Dieumerci Mbokani penalty before Ben Malango sealed the win when heading home from close range after 74 minutes.
The victory enabled the Congolese to overtake their opponents, who have never been to a World Cup, at the top of Group J on the sixth and final round of games.
The Congolese finished the group with 11 points, one more than Benin.
Six teams are now in the African play-offs: DR Congo, Ghana, Egypt, Mali, Morocco and Senegal.
Africa’s five World Cup representatives at Qatar 2022 will be decided when the two-legged play-offs take place in March.