Congo scored a late winner to ensure their progression into the last eight of the competition. They are now leading Group A with seven points, while Burkina Faso are at the bottom, with only a point.

The Red Devils needed at least a draw to ensure they are in the quarter- finals, while the Stallions were desperate for a win.

The first half of the match was dull, the Red Devils still had better chance to score and the Stallions offered very little.

The second-half started with a much better pace and intensity, which Congo progressing with more optimism; they went ahead when Bifouma swept home a cross from Dore in the 51st minute.

They nearly doubled their lead with 18 minutes to go, but N'Dinga's powerful shot was saved by the Stallions goalkeeper Sanou.

The Stallions need to score a couple to have any chance of going into the quarter-finals but rarely looked like doing so. The Stallions offered very little in the match until the 86th minute, when Bance scored at the back post.

But the scores were equal for barely a minute, Burkina Faso goalkeeper Sanou punched the ball onto the shoulder of Congo attacker Ondama, and the ball trickled into the net for the Red Devil's winner; it was 2-1 for Congo.

The Red Devils and their coach legendary Claude LeRoy were jubilant - the achievements of the team so far are beyond all expectations; they knocked out Nigeria, the reigning champions, and have beaten the Stallions, who were runners-up in the last tournament in 2013!

The Congo's qualification sets a new record for LeRoy, who now achieved seven quarter-finals, in eight tournaments with five different countries. In Africa he managed Cameroon, Senegal, DR Congo and Ghana national teams before he became the new coach of the Congo national team in 2013. He led the Cameroon national team to be the runners - up in the 1986 African Cup of Nations and then champions in 1988. He also reached quarter - finals with Senegal at the 1992 African Cup of Nations. LeRoy also managed Malaysia, Oman and Syria national teams.