Substitute Bazoumana Toure scored in stoppage time for Côte d’Ivoire who came from two goals down to beat Gabon 3-2 in Marrakesh on Wednesday and top Group F at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Cameroon also fell behind, against Mozambique in Agadir, but a thunderbolt from Christian Kofane delivered a 2-1 victory.
Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon finished level on seven points and both had a plus two goal difference. The Ivorians topped the table because they scored five goals and Cameroon four.
The results completed the last 16 line-up. Côte d’Ivoire will face Burkina Faso, Cameroon meet South Africa and Mozambique will play Nigeria.
In central city Marrakesh, Gabon rocked Côte d’Ivoire by building a two-goal lead midway through the first half before the title-holders cut the deficit just before the break to trail 2-1 at half-time.
Guelor Kanga struck after 11 minutes for the Gabonese Panthers, whose best known footballer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had returned to France for treatment of a thigh injury.
The 2015 African player of the year scored in a 3-2 loss to Mozambique three days ago that eliminated Gabon from the race to be among the 16 qualifiers for the knockout stage.
Ivorian Jean-Philippe Krasso netted on 44 minutes after being set up by Wilfried Zaha, the former Crystal Palace winger recalled for the AFCON after missing the triumphant 2024 campaign.
The defending champions took off captain Franck Kessie and Zaha halfway through the second half, but Amad Diallo, who scored in the first two group matches, remained on the bench.
Manchester United winger Diallo was finally introduced on 76 minutes, replacing Oumar Diakiate, who was walking a disciplinary tightrope having been yellow-carded
