Bruno-Zita Mbanangoye scored from a stoppage-time free kick in Gabon’s 3-2 win over Morocco yesterday to put the co-hosts into the African Cup of Nations quarte-rfinals and send the Group C favourites crashing out of the tournament.

Mbanangoye’s curling right-footed effort decided a hugely dramatic game in which Gabon had hit back from 2-1 down with two goals in a minute before conceding a 90th-minute equalizer from a penalty.

But Gabon wouldn’t give up, and Mbanangoye’s strike in the fifth minute of stoppage time ensured a barely believable finish.

Tunisia also progressed to the last eight after their earlier win over Niger.

Issam Jemaa scored a 90th-minute winner to put former champions Tunisia in the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over tournament debutants Niger.

The substitute stepped inside two defenders and hammered a left-footed shot into the net to finally shake off Niger’s challenge in the Group C game at Stade de l’Amitie.

Youssef Msakni’s second goal in two games put Tunisia ahead in the fourth minute and apparently on course for a straightforward victory, but Ngounou Tonji equalized five minutes later.

Niger had the Tunisians rattled for the rest of the first half, hitting the post and missing a string of chances through centre forward Moussa Maazou before a shaky Tunisia found their composure in the second.

Niger’s rousing rally after falling behind to an early goal against one of the continent’s top teams nearly kept alive its slim hopes of progressing at its first tournament.

Tunisia’s nerves finally settled, however, with Jemaa’s late strike.