Hosts Morocco kept their dream of winning the Africa Cup of Nations in front of their own fans alive with a 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the quarter-finals on Friday, while Senegal saw off neighbours Mali to reach the last four.

On Saturday, Algeria face in-form Nigeria, then Ivory Coast take on record seven-time title-holders Egypt.

Captain Salah scored after 124 minutes to clinch a 3-1 extra-time triumph for the Egyptians .

A Brahim Diaz goal sent Morocco through to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals at Tanzania's expense on Sunday, with Cameroon now standing in the way of the hosts after the Indomitable Lions edged South Africa 2-1 in their last-16 clash.

Champions in 2022, Senegal are seen as the biggest threat to hosts Morocco's dreams of winning a first AFCON title in half a century.

Gabon's sports minister has announced the banning of veteran players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga, the suspension of the whole national team, and the sacking of the coaching staff following the Panthers' disastrous showing at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Ivorians and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon came into their last Group F matches with identical records, leaving open the possibility that a drawing of lots would be required to determine their final positions.

Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore, who plays for Sunderland, was fined $10,000 for “offensive remarks” he made in an interview after Algeria’s 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in Rabat on Sunday.

Algeria completed the group stage with a perfect record as the two-time former champions eased past Equatorial Guinea in Rabat.

Sadio Mane's Senegal, African champions in 2022, defeated Benin 3-0 in Tangier to top Group D on goal difference ahead of the Leopards, who won by the same margin against Botswana in Rabat.

Algeria will be looking to make it a perfect Africa Cup of Nations group phase when they face Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday, particularly if they keep another clean sheet as goalkeeper Luca Zidane shines in Morocco.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s international career looks to have ended with a whimper as he headed back to France on Tuesday and will miss Gabon’s last game at the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

African player of the year Achraf Hakimi made his comeback from almost two months out injured for Morocco as Mali also qualified for the next round and Mohamed Salah was rested for Egypt's 0-0 draw against Angola.

Nigeria have six points in Group C, Tunisia three and Tanzania and Uganda one each going into the final round of games on Tuesday.

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe was among the spectators at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Friday evening, turning up in a Morocco jersey bearing Achraf Hakimi’s number two as he travelled especially to support his close friend during the hosts’ second group match of the Africa Cup of Nations. 

The France and Real Madrid legend watched proudly from the stands as his son, Luca Zidane, stood between the posts for Algeria, turning a routine group-stage win into a moment steeped in legacy.

Among the spectators in the Moroccan capital was France legend Zinedine Zidane, whose parents came from Algeria and whose son Luca was starting in goal for the Desert Foxes.

Mahrez got the opener after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans who made up the vast majority of the 16,115 crowd at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

Ademola Lookman scored a superb second-half winner as Nigeria earned a 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations Group C victory over Tanzania in the pouring rain in Fes on Tuesday, a positive start for the silver medallists from two years ago, but one that was not without moments of alarm.

Algeria will be aiming to live up to their billing as the fourth-best side in Africa according to the FIFA rankings.