PORT SAID (Egypt) Feb 1: Nigeria beat Senegal 2-1 on Tuesday night in a final African Nations Cup Group D match but both teams qualified for the quarterfinals of the competition.

Nigeria finished top of Group D, otherwise known as the ‘Group of Death’ with maximum nine points from three matches while Senegal pipped both Zimbabwe and Ghana to the second spot on the strength of better goals difference after they all finished tied on three points.

Zimbabwe beat Ghana 2-1 in the other Group D match played in Ismailia.

Nigeria will now tackle champions Tunisia here in Port Said in one of the quarter-finals Saturday while Guinea square up with Senegal.

Nice striker Souleymane Camara put Senegal ahead in 59th minute when he shot from inside the box after a goal melee.

Nigeria drew level on 79th minute through Obafemi Martins, who headed home a fine cross from the right by the enterprising Nwankwo Kanu and nine minutes later Martins ended his much-talked about dry run with a second.

After a cautious start during which both teams tried to size each other Wigan striker Henri Camara made the first attempt at goal in the sixth minute but Nigeria keeper Vincent Enyeama did well to scramble his shot for a corner.

Senegal continued to attack and five minutes later Diomansy Kamara got to the end of a long ball but his final touch was disappointing. Kamara, with his blistering pace and dribble, was a contant source of danger for Nigeria as he peppered Taye Taiwo with his dashing runs down the right flank.

The Teranga Lions again came close on 21 minutes when Lamine Diatta’s diving header off a Diouf freekick from the right side missed narrowly. And soon after Joseph Enakarhire had to upend Henri Camara who was headed for goal as Senegal continued to mount pressure.

Nigeria slowly began to warm their way into the match as they passed the ball well in midfield but the final ball often let them down. John Utaka on the right wing ran at Omar Daf, in for the suspended Habib Beye.

However, just before the break, Nigeria had to dig really deep to keep away the goal-hungry Senegalese after skipper Ferdinand Coly initiated another attack from the right but somehow the Eagles cleared their lines.

In the second period, Senegal continued to attack even after they were rewarded on 59 minutes through substitute Souleymane Camara.

Nigeria’s chances were few and far between. Obafemi Martins took a low shot from the edge of the box in the 50th minute which screamed across the face of goal.

Pape Bouba Diop tried one of his famed shots on 75 minutes but Enyeama held well before the ‘Super Eagles’ rose high to draw level and avenge their 2-1 defeat in the semi-finals of the same competition four years ago in Mali.—AFP