Senegal and the Ivory Coast qualified for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarter-finals on Sunday in Algeria, capping off a successful night for west Africa.
Senegal, who started the final round of Group B second, defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-0 in the eastern city of Annaba.
The surprisingly easy victory propelled the Senegalese to first place and a last-eight meeting with the Group D winners, most likely Mali, this Friday.
Ivory Coast started last in the standings against then-leaders Uganda, but a 3-1 victory propelled them to second and qualification for the knockout phase.
The Ivorians will face Algeria at the Stade Nelson Mandela in Algiers on Friday, a venue where the host nation won all three Group A matches without conceding.
Senegal finished with six points, the Ivory Coast and Uganda each with four, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with two in a competition limited to footballers playing for clubs in their country of birth.
The Ivorians and Ugandans were separated by the head-to-head rule, ensuring that all three West African contenders will compete in the quarter-finals, as Ghana qualified from Group C.
After defeating Senegal and holding DR Congo, Ugandan coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic hoped to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in six attempts.
But they got off to a bad start, allowing Sankara Karamoko and Vignon Ouotro to put the Ivory Coast ahead after 27 minutes.
Moses Waiswa converted a penalty on 34 minutes to cut the deficit in half, and Uganda missed chances before Aubin Kouame scored an Ivorian goal 12 minutes from time.
The east Africans’ luck ran out as the woodwork denied Travis Mutyaba a late goal off a brilliantly taken free-kick.
DR Congo fell behind midway through the first half in Annaba when Ousmane Diouf scored, and they were reduced to 10 men before halftime after Kevin Mondeko was sent off.
Senegal won with two goals in three minutes from Pape Diallo and an own goal from Baggio Siadi in the closing stages.
