Algeria reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, as they finished runners-up in Group C after defeating the Lions of Teranga 2-0 in their final group game.

The Desert Foxes were not at their best but they deserved to win. They missed their chance for an early opener and perhaps a higher score, when Senegal allowed Sofiane Feghouli, 24, to take a shot, which Coundoul saved with his feet.

The opener for Algeria came in the 11th minute of the match when Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez scored, which meant that the Teranga Lions were on the back foot for the rest of the game.

Algeria were helped by Senegal's shocking defence that was leakier than a rusty colander and was completely responsible for the first goal.

After 53 minutes, the Lions of Teranga introduced Newcastls's forward Papiss Cisse, but the debut for the 29 year-old was an unhappy one as he missed an easy chance to score, after being set up by Stoke's Mame Biram Diouf.

Senegal did not really react after going 1-0 behind but they finally tested the keeper through Southampton's Saido Mane who had a shot blocked. There was a chance for a fortunate equaliser, but Mane slipped when he shot, and dragged it wide after a deflected back-pass.

The Lions of Teranga finally capitulated in the 82nd minute, as Tottenham Hotspur's Nabil Bentaleb finished a sweeping counter-attack with a venomous low strike from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right to seal the win for Algeria.

Algeria's second goal meant that Senegal lost out on a place in the last-eight, making it the end of the road for Senegal, and probably for their coach Alain Giresse.

The Black Stars of Ghana, who defeated South Africa in their final group game, will join Algeria in the last-eight which delighted their coach Avram Grant.

As the pitches in the small towns have been badly damaged during the previous matches played, the African Football Confederation decided that the quarter - final matches will be played in Bata and Malabo, the capital city.