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Libya players celebrate their second goal as Senegal's Issiar Dia, right, reacts - but their joy was shortlived as they failed to qualify for the tournament's knockout stages Ariel Schalit/AP/Press Association Images
ACN2012

Out of Africa: here’s your daily round-up from the Africa Cup of Nations

We’ve started to fill in the blanks on our Cup of Nations wallchart. Here’s how the final round of Group A games panned out yesterday.

Group A: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Zambia

How it happened: A second-half strike from Christopher Katongo gave Zambia a 1-0 win over tournament co-hosts Equatorial Guinea and made sure of his country’s place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

Katongo settled the game in the 67th minute when he took full advantage of the space allowed to him by the Equatorial Guinea defence. The Zambian captain collected the ball from a quick throw-in and drove across the face of goal before finishing low to Emmanuel Danilo’s right from the edge of the box.

Equatorial Guinea failed to create any serious threat for much of the game, but home fans were able to console themselves with a quarter-final spot in the country’s first-ever finals appearance.

What it means: Zambia progress as group winners with seven points; Equatorial Guinea go through in second place.

YouTube Credit: lekneine2012

Group A: Libya 2-1 Senegal

How it happened: A brace from Ihaab Boussefi gave Libya a 2-1 win over Senegal in Bata, but it was not enough to see the North Africans through to the tournament’s quarter-finals.

Marcos Paqueta’s side knew that qualification was out of their own hands, but they started brightly and took the lead through Boussefi after just five minutes. Veteran striker Admed Saad jinked his way through the Senegalese defence before slipping the ball through to his partner to apply the finish.

Senegal’s response was almost instant, and Deme N’Diaye brought them back on level terms with a header in the 11th minute. N’Diaye’s goal looked to be enough to earn a face-saving point for Senegal, who lost both of their opening games, before Saad settled the game with an excellent volley six minutes from time.

Key player: Ihaab Boussefi. His two goals ensured that Libya upheld their side of the equation, but couldn’t prevent “The Mediterranean Knights” from exiting at the first round again.

What it means: Zambia’s win in Malabo ensured that both Libya and Senegal would be eliminated, regardless of the result.

YouTube Credit: iFootball10

Next up: Group B comes to a close this evening. Sudan take on Burkina Faso in Bata, while Angola know that a point against the already-qualified Ivory Coast will be enough to see them through to the quarter-finals. Both games kick-off at 18:00 GMT.

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