African giants on track

Kanu and Julius Aghahowa helped Nigeria past Liberia

BBC Sport Online looks ahead to the quarter-finals of the Nations Cup.

After a slow start to the tournament that saw goals hard to come by, the final round of group matches brought the competition to life.

Ghana needed two goals in the final two minutes to secure a dramatic victory over Burkina Faso, while South Africa and Cameroon finally showed the class that puts them among the favourites to take the title.

Perennial favourites Nigeria and much-fancied Senegal also made the last eight, suggesting the knockout stages will see the quality of matches improve further still.

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South Africa v Mali (3 Feb, Stade de Kayes stadium, Kayes)
After failing to score in their opening two matches, South Africa found their scoring touch just in time to beat Morocco 3-1 and make the last eight.

South Africa's players celebrate scoring against Morocco

Substitute Siyabonga Nomvete provided the inspiration for that win, but the lack of firepower seen in earlier goalless draws against Burkina Faso and Ghana will worry coach Carlos Queiroz.

Host nation Mali have achieved their main aim of reaching the quarter-finals and have done so unbeaten.

Seydou Keita, Mamadou Bagayoko and Bassala Toure have all impressed as they came back to snatch a draw with Liberia, and went close to upsetting favourites Nigeria in another goalless draw.

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Nigeria v Ghana (3 Feb, 26 March Stadium, Bamako)
After a slow start, the Super Eagles looked to be approaching something like their best form in the 1-0 win over Liberia that ensured qualification.

Ghana's Ishmad Addo will face the Nigerians

Nigeria struggled in their first two matches but still managed to top the group undefeated, with two wins and no goals conceded.

Issac Boakye's last-minute winner gave Ghana a miraculous victory over Burkina Faso and secured an unexpected place in the knockout stages.

Inspiration had been severely lacking for the best part of three matches but the manner of their qualification could give the Black Stars the boost they will need to trouble Nigeria.

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Cameroon v Egypt (4 Feb, Sikasso)
The holders are the only team to have really impressed so far, collecting the maximum nine points from three games.

Egypt qualified thanks to victory over Zambia

Parma star Patrick Mboma got the decisive goals in opening wins over DR Congo and Ivory Coast before the Lions overwhelmed Togo 3-0, and they will be hard to stop.

The return of striker Hossam Hassan for the crucial win over Zambia gave Egypt a lift, although the Pharoahs made hard work of their 2-1 victory.

Recovering from an opening defeat to eventual group winners Senegal was impressive, but a far tougher test awaits in Sikasso.

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Senegal v DR Congo (4 Feb, M Keita, Bamako)
A drab goalless draw in their final group match was no surprise as Senegal had already qualified for the last eight, but it may prove difficult to rediscover the inspiration seen in wins over Egypt and Zambia.

Senegal's Omar Diallo saved a penalty against Tunisia

However, the rested players will return to take on DR Congo and a semi-final place is the least of their ambition.

DR Congo looked unlikely to match their third-place finish at the last Nations Cup after failing to score in their first two games.

An early exit would have been no surprise, but the manner of their 3-1 win over Ivory Coast suggests Senegal could face a tougher time than expected.