AFCON 2015: Quarter-Final Scores, Results and Updated Schedule

Ghana and Ivory Coast filled the last two semi-final spots on Sunday at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after victories over Guinea and Algeria respectively.

Ghana's was an easy 3-0 victory while Ivory Coast had to work somewhat harder to overcome Algeria 3-1 in a tough match.

Hosts Equatorial Guinea put themselves through to the semi-finals on Saturday after coming back from 1-0 down to beat Tunisia 2-1 after extra time.

DR Congo pulled off an extraordinary comeback in the first quarter-final, fighting from two goals down against Congo to prevail 4-2 and move into the last four.

Read on for an updated tournament schedule along with recaps of the quarter-final encounters.

Date	Time (GMT/ET)	Stage	Fixture
Jan. 17	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Group A	Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Congo
Jan. 17	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Group A	Burkina Faso 0-2 Gabon
Jan. 18	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Group B	Zambia 1-1 Congo DR
Jan. 18	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Group B	Tunisia 1-1 Cape Verde Islands
Jan. 19	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Group C	Ghana 1-2 Senegal
Jan. 19	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Group C	Algeria 3-1 South Africa
Jan. 20	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Group D	Ivory Coast 1-1 Guinea
Jan. 20	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Group D	Mali 1-1 Cameroon
Jan. 21	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Group A	Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Burkina Faso
Jan. 21	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Group A	Gabon 0-1 Congo
Jan. 22	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Group B	Zambia 1-2 Tunisia
Jan. 22	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Group B	Cape Verde Islands 0-0 Congo DR
Jan. 23	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Group C	Ghana 1-0 Algeria
Jan. 23	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Group C	South Africa 1-1 Senegal
Jan. 24	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Group D	Ivory Coast 1-1 Mali
Jan. 24	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Group D	Cameroon 1-1 Guinea
Jan. 25	6 p.m./1 p.m.	Group A	Congo 2-1 Burkina Faso
Jan. 25	6 p.m./1 p.m.	Group A	Gabon 0-2 Equatorial Guinea
Jan. 26	6 p.m./1 p.m.	Group B	Cape Verde Islands 0-0 Zambia
Jan. 26	6 p.m./1 p.m.	Group B	Congo DR 1-1 Tunisia
Jan. 27	6 p.m./1 p.m.	Group C	Senegal 0-2 Algeria
Jan. 27	6 p.m./1 p.m.	Group C	South Africa 1-2 Ghana
Jan. 28	6 p.m./1 p.m.	Group D	Cameroon 0-1 Ivory Coast
Jan. 28	6 p.m./1 p.m.	Group D	Guinea 1-1 Mali
Jan. 31	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Quarter-Final 1	Congo 2-4 Congo DR
Jan. 31	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Quarter-Final 2	Ivory Coast 3-1 Algeria
Feb. 1	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Quarter-Final 3	Ghana 3-0 Guinea
Feb. 1	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Quarter-Final 4	Tunisia 1-2 (AET) Equatorial Guinea
Feb. 4	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Semi-Final 1	Congo DR v Ivory Coast
Feb. 5	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Semi-Final 2	Ghana v Equatorial Guinea
Feb. 7	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Third-place	Semi-Final 1 Loser v Semi-Final 2 Loser
Feb. 8	7 p.m./2 p.m.	Final	Semi-Final 1 Winner v Semi-Final 2 Winner

Ivory Coast 3-1 Algeria

Sunday Alamba/Associated Press

Wilfried Bony's double proved the real difference for Ivory Coast against Algeria, the Manchester City striker putting the Elephants into the lead twice with Gervinho capping things off in stoppage time.

Algeria's equaliser came early in the second half via a calm Hilal Soudani finish, although some awful Ivory Coast defending played a big part.

Bony's opener came against the run of play 26 minutes in—Algeria having dominated early proceedings—the former Swansea man heading home a phenomenal Max Gradel cross from the right, per football writer Colin Udoh:

The 1-0 half-time lead seemed to give Herve Renard's men great impetus, and they started the second period in storming fashion only for Algeria to deliver their own sucker punch with the 51st-minute equaliser.

A long ball caused havoc in the Elephants' penalty area as both goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo and Eric Bailly failed miserably to clear, and Soudani finely finished Riyad Mahrez's squared ball.

The Dinamo Zagreb forward then almost gave Algeria the lead in the 66th minute, Gbohouo pulling off a magnificent save as Soudani looked to turn home Yacine Brahimi's shot from close range, per African football expert Jonathan Wilson:

Only two minutes later, though, Bony put Ivory Coast ahead again as he sent a lopping header into the back of the net from a Yaya Toure free-kick.

Far from closing the game out calmly, Ivory Coast then did all they could to collapse in defence, Algeria going close through Islam Slimani late on.

But as Algeria pushed for an equaliser, Ivory Coast counter-attacked in stoppage time, Gervinho sweeping home a fine finish to wrap things up for the Elephants.

They now face Congo DR in the semi-final, and while they should be seen as favourites, some defensive frailties need to be dealt with. 

Ghana 3-0 Guinea 

Christian Atsu’s outrageous second goal capped an easy 3-0 victory for Ghana against Guinea on Sunday to see the Black Stars through to the semi-finals of AFCON 2015.

The Everton loanee opened the scoring after four minutes before a terrible defensive error from Guinea’s Baissama Sankoh just before half-time gifted Kwesi Appiah Ghana’s second.

Atsu then produced a phenomenal dipping strike from the right of the penalty area, per Fox Soccer, to see Ghana to a routine win in the third quarter-final:

"

Ghana are on to the African Cup of Nations semifinals, and Christian Atsu did THIS: http://t.co/BttAoRmGZF https://t.co/DEsDgkGZwU

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 1, 2015"

Guinea had only made it through to the first knockout round through the drawing of lots—at Mali’s expense—and they were second best for all 90 minutes.

Atsu’s first came early on after a clever back heel from Andre Ayew ran across the six yard box for the oncoming winger to stroke home left-footed.

Ghana dominated from there, but failed to add a second until just before half-time. In the 44th minute, Sankoh inexplicably sliced his clearance to Appiah, who made no mistake in running through and slotting the ball past Naby Yattara, per sports presenter Michael Oti Adjei:

Atsu’s 61st-minute stunner wrapped things up in impressive style for the Ghanaians before Guinea keeper Yattara was sent off in stoppage time, and they could well be set for a final berth as they now face Equatorial Guinea in the semi-final.

The hosts’ route through to the last four could hardly have been more contrasting to Ghana’s as they beat Tunisia in a shambolic quarter final, and Avram Grant’s men must be seen as favourites to make the last two.

Congo 2-4 DR Congo

DR Congo scored four goals in the last 25 minutes of their quarter-final on Saturday to overhaul a 2-0 deficit against Congo and qualify to the next round.

Ferebory Dore and Thievy Bifouma put Congo in the driving seat and DR Congo looked to be going out of AFCON 2015 with half an hour of the match remaining.

However, Dieumerci Mbokani pulled one back in the 65th minute before Jeremy Bokila equalised, Joel Kimuaki heading in DR Congo's third with nine minutes remaining.

Mbokani completed the extraordinary turnaround with his second in the 90th minute following a counter-attack after Congo went in search of their own equaliser.

The first half was enormously forgetful and was fortunately overshadowed by all the action after the break. Dore broke the deadlock as he poked home a cross from the right, escaping his marker with ease.

More suspect defending led to Bifouma doubling Congo's lead in the 62nd minute, as he fired home from six yards with 'keeper Robert Kidiaba in no-man's land, per African football expert Jonathan Wilson:

DR Congo were not to be disheartened, however, and they responded almost immediately, Yannick Bolasie working well down the left before cutting the ball back into the box for an unmarked Mbokani to poke home.

Bokila equalised 10 minutes later for the Leopards, the forward's lashing shot burying in the top left corner despite a touch from the goalkeeper.

DR Congo took all the momentum of their comeback to fashion a third in the 81st minute, Kimuaki heading home a Cedric Mabwati free-kick to the delight of Kidiaba, per Soccer-Laduma's Joe Crann:

Mbokani followed in his parried effort to claim DR Congo's fourth goal late on to cap of a wonderful turnaround in an electric second half.

Tunisia 1-2 Equatorial Guinea (AET)

Themba Hadebe/Associated Press

Javier Balboa's stoppage-time penalty and wonderful extra-time free kick saw hosts Equatorial Guinea though to the AFCON semi-finals on Saturday, as they downed Tunisia 2-1 in Bata to delirious celebrations.

Tunisia had taken the lead through Ahmed Akaichi only for a hugely controversial penalty to force extra time, Balboa then wrapping things up in supreme fashion in a shambolic match.

Equatorial Guinea were significant underdogs beforehand considering Tunisia's obviously superior quality—22nd in FIFA's world rankings playing 118th.

The opening half followed a similar pattern to the day's first match, with few clear chances being carved out by either side.

Wahbi Khazri caused the hosts some early problems but failed to seriously trouble Felipe Ovono between the posts, although the 'keeper did almost fumble a corner into the path of Aymen Abdennour 17 minutes in.

Ovono kept his team level just after the break, as he made a terrific save to tip Akaichi's powerful shot over the bar, once again proving his worth in AFCON 2015, per football writer Colin Udoh:

The deadlock was finally broken on 70 minutes, as Hamza Mathlouthi found space on the right before crossing into the box for Akaichi to turn home.

The goal stunned the home crowd into silence as the hosts were staring defeat in the face, but they had time to find the equaliser.

And they very nearly did with eight minutes remaining, when Ivan Edu found Emilio Nsue with a wonderful through ball, but Aymen Mathlouthi saved his shot well.

However, there was to be another twist in the tale in normal time, as Equatorial Guinea were awarded a hugely contentious penalty in stoppage time, per the BBC's Farayi Mungazi, as Ivan Bolado dropped to the ground under pressure from Ali Maaloul:

Balboa fired home from the spot to jubilant celebrations before the full-time whistle was blown with tempers rising on the pitch, and the game headed into another half an hour of play. 

Tunisia were clearly stunned after the late equaliser and Equatorial Guinea were in the ascendancy in extra-time.

Balboa took advantage 11 minutes in as he curled a truly brilliant free-kick into the top corner, per B/R UK's Sam Tighe, a strike worthy of winning any game:

Tunisia could simply not respond as the match descended into chaos, with play-acting and time-wasting aplenty and a late scuffle in the dugouts.

But Equatorial Guinea ended as unlikely winners in a game Tunisia really should have won, and the hosts march on into the final four.