Senegal maintained their 100 per cent start at the Africa Cup of Nations to beat rivals Guinea and win Group C.
The AFCON holders deservedly overcame their neighbours 2-0 in a feisty west African derby showdown in Yamoussoukro on Tuesday evening, with a thumping Abdoulaye Seck header in the second half followed by a late finish from substitute Iliman Ndiaye that made it three wins from three and eight goals already scored for Aliou Cisse's side.
But on another night of high drama in the competition, Guinea were eventually pipped to second place in Group C at the last by Cameroon, who rescued their stuttering campaign with an eventful 3-2 victory over The Gambia in Bouake that saw them advance to the last 16 as runners-up on goals scored.
Cameroon will now face Group A runners-up Nigeria at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Saturday night for a place in the quarter-finals, though four points will still be enough to take Guinea through as one of the four best third-place finishers.
Guinea will play surprise Group A winners Equatorial Guinea at Abidjan's Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Sunday, while Senegal will meet a third-place team from Group A or Group F - so either hosts Ivory Coast or likely one of DR Congo, Zambia or Tanzania, presuming favourites Morocco prevail - back at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium next Monday night.
Tuesday's results also mean that Ghana have now officially been eliminated from the tournament at the group stage for the second time running after their dramatic 2-2 draw with Mozambique on Monday night, their faint hopes of snatching one of those third-place slots with only two points extinguished.
It could have been worse for Guinea, with Senegal seeing a goal ruled out for offside and Sadio Mane also wasting a glorious chance in an improved second half.
It took Guinea until stoppage time to test former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, with a swivelling volley from substitute Morgan Guilavogui well saved.
The first half was desperately short on quality aside from a few Nampalys Mendy efforts, with tempers boiling over repeatedly between both sets of players.
