Ivory Coast will have to wait for other group results to confirm their place in the last 16 after being beaten 4-0 in their last group game against Equatorial Guinea on Monday night.
Emilio Nsue’s double, Pablo Ganet’s 25-yard free-kick and Yannick Buyla’s late goal gave the National Thunder a famous win that sealed top spot in Group A with the hosts now waiting to see if they’ll finish amongst the best third-placed sides across the six groups after collecting three points.
Some Ivorian players were in tears at the final whistle as they were loudly booed off by an angry partisan crowd at Alassane Ouattara Stadium after one of the biggest surprises in Afcon history.
The Equatorial Guinea contingent, meanwhile, celebrated wildly after registering another seismic victory at the finals and they will face a third-placed side from Group C, D, or E in the last 16 on Sunday.
In the other Group A game, Nigeria beat Guinea Bissau to finish second and book their place in the last 16 of the competition.
The winner came when Opa Sangante diverted a Moses Simon cross into his own net nine minutes before the break. Both sides had goals ruled out in the second half for offside, while Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen also had an effort disallowed for handball.
The Super Eagles will face the second-placed side from Group C, which will be Senegal, Guinea or Cameroon, in the last 16 on Saturday.
