Tunisia and Gabon go through

Another thrilling day’s action at the Africa Cup of Nations culminated with Tunisia and co-hosts Gabon booking their places in the quarter-finals thanks to late winning goals.

Gabon progressed after clinching a 3-2 victory against Morocco with Bruno Zita Mbanangoye’s curling free-kick, while Issam Jemaa was Tunisia’s hero.

Houssine Kharja had put Morocco ahead in the 24th minute of a game they had to get something from to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last eight.

However, the Group C match was turned on its head in the second-half when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Daniel Cousin put Gabon ahead in a two-minute burst.

Morocco looked to have salvaged a point when Kharja converted a penalty in the last minute.

However, in the eighth minute of time added on Mbanangoye bent a free-kick around the Moroccan wall to spark wild celebrations in the Stade de Angondje in Libreville.

Morocco’s early exit is good news for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, however, as striker Marouane Chamakh, an unused substitute yesterday, will return to the Emirates much earlier than expected.

In the earlier group game, Tunisia took a fourth-minute lead through the impressive Youssef Msakni but Niger equalised four minutes later in controversial fashion when William N’Gounou netted following a possible handball from teammate Ouwo Moussa Maazou.

Both teams created a host of chances after that, including each hitting the woodwork.

But it was Tunisia who claimed the points when Jemaa netted in the 90th minute.

There was still time after that for Tunisia to hit the underside of the bar through Oussama Darragi, but they had already done enough to claim the win.

Tunisia will now face Gabon in the final pool match to decide who will go through as group winners.

Today’s matches see Botswana face Guinea ahead of Ghana’s clash with Mali.