Ivory Coast finished top of Group F as the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations ended on Wednesday. Cameroon followed in second place, while Algeria kept their perfect record in another group.
Ivory Coast and Cameroon entered the final group games on the same points. There was a chance their positions could be decided by a draw. That did not happen in the end.
Ivory Coast claimed first place on goals scored. They came from two goals down to beat Gabon 3 2 in Marrakesh. Cameroon won their match 2 1 against Mozambique.
Both teams ended the group with seven points. Mozambique finished with three points and Gabon with one. Mozambique progressed as one of the best third placed teams.
Gabon shocked Ivory Coast with a fast start. Guelor Kanga scored after a mistake by goalkeeper Alban Lafont in the 21st minute. Denis Bouanga then added a second goal for Gabon.
Ivory Coast responded before the break. Wilfried Zaha set up Jean Philippe Krasso to reduce the gap. Evann Guessand scored the equaliser in the 84th minute with a header. The comeback was complete in injury time. Youngster Bazoumana Toure scored the winning goal for the Elephants.
Ivory Coast now move into the last 16. The defending champions will face Burkina Faso in Marrakesh next Tuesday.
In Agadir, Mozambique took the lead against Cameroon through a fine strike by Geny Catamo. Cameroon hit back before half time after Nene put the ball into his own net.
Cameroon sealed the win in the second half. Christian Kofane scored with a powerful effort in the 55th minute. They finished second in the group. The five time champions will play South Africa in the last 16 in Rabat on Sunday.
The winner of that match will face either hosts Morocco or Tanzania in the quarter finals. Mozambique also made history. They reached the knockout stage for the first time and will next play Nigeria.
