Senegal created World Cup history by becoming only the second African nation to reach the quarter-finals after the ice-cool Swedes ultimately wilted in the heat of the Oita sun.
Two-goal Henri Camara was the Senegalese hero, first hauling the Lions of Teranga level just before the break after Celtic's Henrik Larsson had given Sweden an 11th-minute lead.
But with the stalemate which followed unable to be broken inside 90 minutes, Sedan striker Camara struck again 14 minutes into extra-time as Senegal went through to the last eight on the golden goal rule.
At Italia 90, it was the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon who paved the way, but it has taken a further 12 years for another African side to follow their lead.
But with a quarter-final clash against either co-hosts Japan or Turkey beckoning, there is every chance they could become the first team from their continent to go on and claim a place in the semi-finals.
In temperatures soaring near to 100 degrees fahrenheit, Sweden were desperately unlucky not to snatch a golden goal winner themselves when Anders Svensson turned to smash a blistering shot against the post after cleverly outwitting his marker.
Sweden were without inspirational playmaker Freddie Ljungberg after failing a late fitness test on a hip injury, but they made a superb start with Larsson scoring his third goal of the tournament.
Tony Sylva had already made one fine, leg-stretch save from Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg's flashing angled drive in the third minute, but was at fault for the go-ahead goal in the 11th.
The Monaco goalkeeper came to meet Southampton midfielder Anders Svensson's inswinging corner, but was easily beaten to the punch by the head of Larsson, with the ball evading the attention of captain Aliou Cisse on the line.
But from that moment the Lions of Teranga then prowled menacingly in and around the Swedish penalty area before gaining their just reward eight minutes from the break.
The Swedes, who had been struggling to cope with the heat, were picked off as Camara first delightfully chest-trapped El Hadji Diouf's chipped through ball.
His first touch then allowed him to sidestep away from Sweden skipper and Celtic defender Johan Mjallby, while his second was a crisp 20-yard drive beyond Coventry goalkeeper Magnus Hedman.
The beat of the African drums which had provided a steady rhythm to the game since the first whistle were now being pounded on with great gusto as Camara and his team-mates celebrated in front of their colourful fans.
They should have been in full cry again soon after, only for Camara to glance a free header wide from an Amdy Faye cross as Sweden's defence was left exposed.
Anders Svensson, free-kick hero against Argentina, then came close to repeating the feat against Senegal as he brilliantly curled a 25-yarder round the wall, but with the ball heading for the top left-hand corner, Sylva pulled off a superb save.
It was Sweden, though, who looked as if they would be Senegal's for the taking in the second half as both teams headed into the cooling sanctuary of the dressing rooms.
But chances proved to be at a premium after the break, with those that did occur criminally wasted as Anders Svensson, Pape Thiaw and substitute Andreas Andersson all blazed wide when well placed.
Sylva and Hedman were at least called upon to make one superb save apiece, with the Senegalese goalkeeper beating away a crisp shot from Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the Ajax striker - a 76th-minute substitute for the head-bandaged Niclas Alexandersson - had turned inside Cisse to create the opening three minutes later.
Hedman, meanwhile, plucked a top left corner-bound free-kick out of the air from Pape Bouba Diop after he had been brought down just outside the area by Andreas Jakobsson.
With the stalemate unable to be broken, the World Cup then witnessed its first period of extra time, and it was Sweden who came close at first with Anders Svensson hitting the outside of the post with a 15-yard right-foot shot following a delightful piece of skill.
But then came Senegal's moment just over a minute before the break as a Thiaw backheel found Camara, who first beat Jakobsson and then Mjallby before delivering a fine finish past Hedman.
Then the celebrations started in earnest.
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