Nations Cup Day 11 as it happened

LATEST ACTION AS IT HAPPENS (ALL TIMES GMT)

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GROUP C:

Gabon 1-0 Tunisia, Franceville (FT)

Niger 0-1 Morocco, Libreville (FT)

By Stephen Fottrell

2020: So just one more night of first round action to come then, to bring the group stage of this fascinating competition to a close before we get to the business end of things. And that's Group D tomorrow night, with Ghana, Guinea and Mali all vying for the last two quarter-final slots, with Botswana looking to get their first win of the competition. Join us then. Bye for now.

2005: An unnamed Nigerian in Canada, says of the Group C winners: "I have followed Gabonese football right from Azingo National [one of the team's nicknames]. They are benefitting from many years of organised national football."

2000:Libreville. Morocco salvage some pride after ensuring they do not return home from the Nations Cup totally empty-handed. A lacklustre game was settled by a quality goal as Younes Belhanda rifled home Marouane Chamakh's pass for a late winner - and Morocco's first points in Group C. Niger huffed and puffed but never seriously threatened the Atlas Lions defence, but the Mena can be content with fulfilling their pre-tournament aim of not being ridiculed at these finals. A creditable debut.

1958: Franceville. The Gabon players, coach Gernot Rohr and players celebrate a marvellous achievement, as they go one better than their fellow co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, and top their group, with three wins from three. The Panthers were much the better side tonight, showing more of the attacking strength and skill that they displayed previously in Group C, with the dynamic Aubameyang grabbing a much-deserved winner. Tunisia were under-par tonight by their starndards at this year's finals, but they are through in second place in the group and will hope to rekindle their form in the last eight, with many of the regulars likely to come back into the team once again.

1955: FULL-TIME: Gabon 1-0 Tunisia

1953: FULL-TIME: Niger 0-1 Morocco

1952: Franceville. Hand-bags in Franceville as tempers flare, as Abdennour gets involved with several Gabon players, but it is broken up as the teams approach the end of four minutes of injury time.

1950: Libreville. Abdoul Karim almost drags Niger level as he shows the power in his shooting boots again. 30 yards out, he really catches hold of his strike which whistles just a few inches over the Moroccan crossbar. Fantastic hit. Into the second minute of added time. Niger set to win the wooden spoon in Group C, but no surprises there - one of the few in the competition.

1949: Franceville. Aubameyang takes a massive dive in the Tunisian box, when he really does not need to do so, with all that ability. The referee understandably turns away, but the young striker is lucky not to get a card for simulation there. He would have to do a lot worse to lose the adoration of the Franceville crowd here. Even Sylvia Bongo, the first lady, is wearing his number nine shirt.

1946: Libreville. Boussoufa has the chance to settle the win for Morocco as Belhanda counters at great pace after the Atlas Lions clear their lines from a corner. Belhanda plays in Boussoufa who fires at the left-hand side of goal but Kassaly stands strong to block the strike. He doesn't deserve to lose today, the Niger goalkeeper, but his side have less than five minutes to find an equaliser. Meanwhile, Ali Yacoouba is off, Kamilou is on for Niger.

1943: Franceville. Another Tunisia change with Sabeur Khalifa replaced by midfielder Oussama Darragi. Abdennour and Cousin re-fanning first-half flames, meanwhile, this time at the other end with Tunisia lining up for a free-kick, which comes to nothing.

1940:Franceville. Gabon's Remy Ebanega comes on for Mouele, who hobbles off looking very uncomfortable indeed. Ifa Bilel then has one of Tunisia's best chances of the game turning at pace at the edge of the box and rifling at the near post, but straight at Ovono, who is put under pressure well by Chikhaoui, looking for crumbs of a follow-up, but manages to gather it well. Tunisia's Abdennour then needlessly goes into the referee's book, for what appears to be dissent.

1937:Libreville. Marouane Chamakh looks suspiciously offside as he receives a ball behind the Niger defence in the penalty area and he checks back before slipping the ball forward to Younes Belhanda, who has been Morocco's best player today. He roofs his effort from ten yards, thumping high into the net and giving impressive Niger goalkeeper Kassaly with no chance.

1935: GOAL! Niger 0-1 Morocco (Belhanda)

1934: Libreville. Morocco restricted to long-range efforts at present but Boussoufa's well-struck shot is straight at Kassaly, even if it bounces awkwardly in front of him. Meanwhile, play is held up as Jimmy Bulus receives treatment.

1933: Libreville. Bright from Belhanda again who thumps a well-hit left-footed strike a foot wide of the Niger upright from the edge of the box. Meanwhile, Mehdi Carcela is on for Youssef Hadji while Niger's history man, William Tonji Ngounou, is off and is replaced by Alhassane Issoufou.

1930: Franceville. And Gabon almost in again, courtesy of the very shaky Jeridi in the Tunisia goal, who spills a very soft shot almost into Cousin's path, but the big Gabon striker can't quite get to it. Trabelsi looking to make changes now with his team very much on the back foot, and Jeridi at this rate will be luck to stay on. Trabelsi instead withdraw Jemaa for Sami Allagui and Yahia for Chikhaoui, who is immediatley teed up at the edge of the Gabon area, but slashes at it.

1926: Franceville. So Aubameyang joins Angola's Manucho and Morocco's Houssine Kharjah on three goals, and he is the only one who will be able to add to that after tonight.

1922: Franceville. Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hits his third of the tournament to put Gabon top of Group C, as, once again Daniel Cousin is the provider, finding Aubameyang on his way towards the Tunisian area, who swivels well and gently strokes his shot goal-wards, and through Jeridi, who dives away from the shot. Should have done better, the Tunisian keeper, but Aubameyang deserves it for his workrate alone.

1921: GOAL! Gabon 1-0 Tunisia (Aubameyang)

1920: Finally a text! Hicham, in New York texts: "This has been very poor from Morocco. I am very frustrated that every single tournament we have a great team but fail to deliver. The problem is not Gerets or the FA, we simply do not have the players with the right mental strength to perform under expectation and away from home. This will continue until we sort that problem out." Worth the wait Hicham, thanks for that one!

1918: Libreville. Terrific football from Morocco, especially from that man Belhanda again. Lovely footwork just outside the D allows him to play in Boussoufa with a threaded pass but Kassaly charges out to block the left-footed strike from ten yards out. Fine move and that is far more what football fans were expecting from Morocco at this tournament.

1916: Libreville. Niger keeper Kassaly comes out well to punch away a floated free-kick from Anzhi Makhachkala midfielder Mbark Boussoufa. Morocco theaten again from the throw but can't force a chance, having to settle for a corner. Boussoufa strikes at goal but another Nigerien throws his body in the way and the ball is cleared.

1913: Franceville. Tunisia enjoy plenty of possession early doors in this half again, but just can't fashion an opportunity to test Ovono in the Gabonese goal. Sami Trabelsi looks suitably frustrated on the sidelines. And almost sees his side punished, as Edmond Moule maraudes down the right flank for Gabon, before turning inside and firing a shot at the near post, which richochets off Abdennour's leg but goes just wide for a corner, which again creates some panic in Jeridi's area, before dinking over.

1911: Libreville. The Niger fans are enjoying themselves inside the Stade de l'Amitie but they won't have been too impressed by Boubacar's strike. Lovely first touch lifts the ball over the head of his Moroccan opponent, but he then fires his 35-yard volley very high and very wide. Morocco look half-asleep. Was that coach Eric Gerets' last half-time talk to the Lions?

1910:Libreville. Niger subsitute Issiakou Koudize is booked for a wild challenge on Adil Hermach.

1909: Franceville. Tunisian captain Issam Jemaa looking to start the second-half for the Tunisians as they did the first - on the front foot - as he gets two bites at the apple at the edge of the box but sees both efforts charged down. Jemaa moved club today by the way, on transfer deadline day, switching from Auxerre to Brest.

1906: Libreville. Another terrific strike from Niger. Abdoul Karim unleashes a thunderbolt free-kick from 30 yards that Amsif does well to block and turn behind for a corner. Morocco eventually clear their lines but that was a fine strike from the Nigerien.

1905: Franceville. Gabon make a change with Levy Madinda on for Roguy Meye.

1904: And we're back underway in both Franceville and Libreville.

1902: No texts in from you yet tonight, by the way. Are you taking a night off? Not captivated by these games so far? Surely not. Text us on [phone] with anything Cup of Nations related...now!

1857:Half-time snapshot from John Bennett in Libreville: "An nearly empty stadium and a very poor game. Morocco have dominated posession without really threatening. Meanwhile at the other end Moussa Maazou hit the bar for Niger with a terrific volley on the left side of the box. Morocco boss Eric Gerets will be under pressure if the score stays the same at full-time."

1853: Franceville: Another high-tempo performance from both sides, with Tunisia enjoying most of the early pressure and Gabon finding their level as the half wore on. Both teams determined to clinch that top spot, but no goals thus far.

1851:Libreville. The Malagasy referee blows for half-time with neither Niger and Morocco managing to find a route to goal. It has not been the most illuminating 45 minutes and Morocco will look back on El Kaddouri's scything run and shot while Niger will point to Maazou's stunning strike against the crossbar as reasons to be optimistic. Are the Mena 45 minutes away from their first ever Nations Cup point(s)? Stand by for an answer on that one.

1850: HALF-TIME: Gabon 0-0 Tunisia

1849: HALF-TIME: Niger 0-0 Morocco

1848: Jeridi in the Tunisian goal is down once again after another wave of pressure from Gabon. What for, I'm not sure, to be honest.

1846: Two minutes of injury time leading up to the break in Franceville, with one minute of additional time at the end of the half in Libreville.

1844: Libreville. Morocco captain Houssine Kharja, who was forced to deny rumours that he would quit yesterday, is stretchered off after taking a clattering. He's been a rare bright spark for the Atlas Lions at this tournament and is the joint top scorer at the finals with Manucho of Angola, don't forget. But Kharja will not be adding to his tally of three goals at the finals and is replaced by Adil Hermach. Kharja, who plays for Fiorentina in Italy, looks incredibly frustrated to be off the pitch as he hobbles away from the action for the last time at these 2012 finals. Disappointing end for Morocco's best player. Meanwhile, Hermach is booked after coming onto the pitch without the referee's permission. Chamakh takes the captain's armband.

1842:Franceville. Gabon captain Cousin and Tunisia defender Abdennour are having a right old ding-dong battle, as they collide repeatedly and exchange numerous words. May not be on each other's Christmas card list next year, but certainly determined in equal measure.

1840: Libreville. Bright play from William Tonji Ngounou, who scored Niger's first-ever Nations Cup goal against Tunisia, as he wins a free-kick for his side 40-45 yards from goal. Will it create another opening for the Mena? It certainly does as Moussa Maazou hits the crossbar. He takes a diagonal down well on his thigh before thrashing a bouncing ball across the face of goal and against the crossbar with Amsif beaten. Spectacular strike from the Nigerien and he holds his head in his hands in disappointment. Niger's best effort on goal by quite some distance. Impressive stuff again from Maazou.

1838: Franceville. Gabon stepping up to the level that they showed to dramatically turn Friday's game against Morocco on its head. Mbanangoye breaking into the box at pace, then swapping feet and delivering a swinging ball into Aubameyang, who can't quite get enough on it to direct it goal-ward. Anis Boussaidi picks up a card for Tunisia for a niggly foul meanwhile.

1835: Libreville. A neat one-two between Morocco's Badr El Kaddouri and Mbark Boussoufa plays in the former for the best chance of the match. He's just ten yards from goal but Niger keeper Kassaly Daouda charges out well to smother the danger.

1834: Libreville. Boubacar fires Niger's first chance on target from 30 yards, managing to keep his volley down from a bouncing ball but his strike lacks any real power and sails straight towards a cautious Mohamed Amsif, playing in place of regular goalkeeper Nadir Lamyaghri today. Half an hour gone in the Gabonese capital, still goalless but Niger have finally registered a shot on goal.

1833: Franceville. Aubameyang is doing his best to get in behind the Tunisian defence, and his Gabon team-mates are doing their best to find him, but to no avail, with a couple of passes from midfield well over-hit.

1831: Libreville. Belhanda once more looks the man most likely for Morocco as they try to break down the Niger defence on the edge of the box. Picking up a pass just inside the penalty area, he checks inside with a neat feint but his left-footed strike is well-blocked. Neat play from the Moroccans matched by decent Niger defending.

1828:Franceville. Cousin making his sizeable presence felt again as he collides with Rami Jeridi in the Tunisian goal in an effort to connect with a floating ball to the far post. Jeridi is on the deck after that. Cousin just shrugs. And a goal-kick is all Jeridi gets.

1826: Libreville. Marouane Chamakh is unlucky after finding himself through on goal some 40 yards out after springing Niger's offside trap. No dice for the Moroccan forward though as he is incorrectly called offside. Great timing from the Arsenal man and he's unfortunate to be denied a free run at goal.

1825: Libreville. One-way traffic at present as Morocco pile forward again, but this time Youssef Hadji can't make any decent contact on a good cut-back as he tries to half-volley from 15 yards out. Chance fluffed by the man who missed a wonderful chance against Tunisia in Morocco's opening Group C defeat to their North African rivals. It all started to go downhill from there for the Atlas Lions.

1822:Libreville. Still very quiet, with neither team having managed to force either goalkeeper into action in the last few minutes. A very slow pace being played out in front of an empty Stade de l'Amitie. Belhanda has a good pop at goal though, curling with his left foot but unable to keep the ball down as he fires in from a central position 25 yards out.

1821: Franceville. This game has a great pace to it, not least from the Gabon attacker Aubameyang, who scored a wonderful goal against Morocco, and Chammem does his best to stop a run from the young striker by hacking him down in midfield when the break was on. Chammem collects a yellow for the foul.

1818: Libreville. Morocco still in control. Some flicks have come out as the team enjoys ample possession, but the Atlas Lions have yet to get behind the Niger backline. Brighter from Morocco and more purposeful than in previous matches. But then, this is a match where there is only pride to play for - and where the pressure is decidedly off.

1816: Franceville. The Tunisian defence almost get themselves in all sorts of trouble with Cousin lurking, but they eventually clear well through Chammem. Who says there's less at stake in this game? Both sides pressing with real intent.

1814:Libreville. A rare poor touch from Younes Belhanda, one of the four men retained by Eric Gerets, kills a promising opening when better control could have allowed the Moroccan number 10 a free strike at goal from just inside the box.

1813: Piers Edwards sitting beside me by the way to provide helpful updates on events in Libreville.

1810: Libreville. Morocco have enjoyed the better possession in the early stages of their clash against Niger. But the Mena threaten from their first corner, as Harouna flicks on but William Tonji Ngounou cannot take advantage from close range.

1810: Franceville. Tunisia look well up for this, as they have throughout this tournament. Sabeur Khalifa, back in the side tonight, creates space well for himself but fires straight at the side-netting at the near post.

1808: Franceville. A bright start from both sides, with Msakni the one to stand out for Tunisia so far, with the attacking midfielder making a couple of surges forward already, firing straight at Ovono this time.

1806: John Bennett in Libreville reports: "The stadium here in Libreville is eerily empty tonight. The always-fun Niger fans have have moved to prime seats on the half-way line."

1803: Niger are unchanged, while only four Moroccans retain their place - El Kaddouri, Belhanda, Kharja, Hadji.

1802: And here's the team line-ups from Libreville:

Niger: 16-Daouda Kassaly; 5-Jimmy Bulus, 13-Mohamed Chicoto, 18-Koffi Dankwa, 23-Mohamed Soumaila; 3-Abdoul Karim Lancina, 8-Olivier Bonnes, 17-William Tonji Ngounou, 14-Issoufou Boubacar; 21-Yacouba Ali, 2-Moussa Maazou.

Morocco: 12-Mohamed Amsif, 3-Badr El Kaddouri, 08-Karim El Ahmadj, 10-Younes Belhanda, 13-Houssine Kharja, 14-Mbark Boussoufa, 16-Jamal Alioui, 17-Marouane Chamakh, 18-Adbelfettah Boukhriss, 20-Youssef Hadji, 23-Mustapha Mrani

1800: And we're underway in Franceville. Not quite the frenzied atmosphere of Friday night, but close..

1758: Line-ups from the other game in Libreville coming up. But just to give you one piece of breaking news from Franceville, Gabon first lady, Sylvia Bongo, who was absent for Gabon's second game, having enthusiastically cheered her team on in their opener, is back in the VIP box for this one.

1754: Tunisia make eight changes meanwhile as Tunisia coach Sami Trabesi give the rest of his squad a run-out.

1752: So, Gabon make four changes from their sensational late-late 3-2 win over Morocco on Friday with Remy Ebanga, Cedric Moubamba, Levy Madinda, and Stephane Nguema out and Lloyd Palun, Moise Brou Epanga, Daniel Cousin and Bruno Zita Mbanangoye in.

1748: Gabon line-up: Gabon line-up: 1-Didier Ovono; 3-Edmond Mouele, 08- Lloyd Palun 5- Bruno Ecuele Manga, 22-Charly Moussonou; 17 Moise Brou Epanga, 10 Daniel Cousin (capt); 21- Roguy Meye; 15-Andre Biyogo Poko; 9-Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 13- Bruno Zita Mbanangoye.

Tunisia line-up: 22- Rami Jeridi, 2- Bilel Ifa, 06 Houcine Ragued, 07 Youssef Msakni, 12 Khalil Chammem, 13- Ben Yahia, 17 Issam Jemaa (capt), 18 -Anis Boussaidi, 19 Sabeur Khalifa, 20 Aymen Abdennour, 21- Jamel Saihi

1744: I will have the team line-ups for you shortly.

1743: Tonight's match is still an important one for Gabon, however, with the right to play in their capital Libreville at stake. Gabon just need a draw to contest their quarter-final in Libreville, while Tunisia, who are also on six points, will be looking to top the group.

1740 GMT: Welcome to day 11 of the Africa Cup of Nations, where we have all the action from the last group games in Group C this evening, with co-hosts Gabon taking on Tunisia in Franceville, with both of those sides having already qualified for the quarter-finals, and Niger and Morocco looking to salvage some pride in Libreville.