African Nations Championship 2014: CHAN Quarter-Final Results and Fixtures

This weekend sees the 2014 African Nations Championship enter its most pivotal stages as Saturday brings about the first of this year's quarter-final fixtures.

Morocco, Nigeria, Mali and Zimbabwe were all in action with a view to booking their places in the last four, while Gabon, Libya, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo must wait until Sunday to find out their fates.

Read on for a complete breakdown of who managed to continue their march in one of Africa's premier tournaments on Saturday, as well as a look toward what's ahead.

Sunday's Quarter-Final Results 

Ghana 1 - 0 DR Congo

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Ghana are one of Africa's top clubs and a factor in world football, but they got all they could handle and more from DR Congo in a tight, 1-0 victory to advance to the semi-final. 

Congo controlled the pace of the match early on and threatened many times for the game's first goal, but that came from Ghana's Kwabena Adusei, who opened and closed the scoring with a 66th-minute penalty conversion.

Ghana's victory sets up an enticing semi-final showdown with Nigeria on Jan. 29.

Gabon 1 - 1 Libya (4-2 Libya Penalties)

Both Gabon and Libya were somewhat of surprise squads, but they both fought hard in a 1-1 thriller that Libya came out on top of thanks to a 4-2 penalty decision to advance to the semi-final.

Libya's Abselsalam Omar found Moto for the game's first goal in the 50th minute that put Libya on top. But it didn't last long, as Daniel Cousin converted a penalty for Gabon in the 72nd minute to equalize.

But Libya came out on top in the penalty shootout and advanced to the top four of the tournament, while Gabon came up just short. 

Saturday's Quarter-Final Results

Morocco 3-4 Nigeria (AET)

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It may not have come about in the rampaging method that Stephen Keshi would have been hoping for, but Nigeria managed to seal their spot in the semi-finals with a classy comeback against Morocco.

Mouhcine Moutouali and Mouhcine Iajour gave the Lions of Atlas great reason to think a major upset was on the cards, striking three times in just 10 minutes to give their team a 3-0 lead going in at the break.

However, Keshi's Super Eagles showed great resolve to tie the game up and force 30 minutes of extra time as goals from Ugonna Uzochukwu, Rabiu Ali and Ejike Uzoenyi offered a lifeline.

And that was all that was needed for Nigeria, who led a fairytale rise from the ashes, with Aliyu Ibrahim adding a fourth in the 111th minute.

As ESPN's Colin Udoh points out, it isn't the first time that the Nigeria boss has pulled off such a feat, either:

A hard-fought victory, but a morale-boosting one all the same. 

Mali 1-2 Zimbabwe

A late goal for Mali threatened to put a brake on Zimbabwe's celebrations, but Ian Gorowa's side just about managed to hold out in Cape Town, overseeing a shock 2-1 win on Saturday evening.

Kudakwashe Mahachi scored a Goal of the Tournament contender after waltzing his way through the Malian defence, piling further woe on the favourites after Simba Sithole had already made it a 1-0 scoreline.

Despite clinching a goal just a minute from full time, Mali failed to inspire when in possession and it's a deserved victory for the Warriors. They will face either Gabon or Libya in the next round.