RADES, Jan 28: Tunisia became the first side to qualify for the African Nations Cup quarterfinals with a controversial 3-0 win on Wednesday over the Democratic Republic of Congo, the first team to be eliminated.

The Congolese had captain Lomana Lua Lua sent off following an off-the-ball incident in the first half, effectively setting Tunisia up for the win after the break.

Brazilian-born Francileudo dos Santos scored twice and Najeh Braham once to preserve Tunisia's winning record. Dos Santos has three goals in the tournament, making him the Nations Cup's leading goal scorer.

Earlier, debutants Rwanda kept their African Nations Cup hopes alive when they forced Guinea to a 1-1 draw in a Group A match. Rwanda had lost 2-1 to hosts Tunisia on the opening day and were in danger of being eliminated when substitute Karim Kamanzi popped up in stoppage time to cancel Titi Camara's early second-half goal.

The result left Guinea leading Group A with four points from two matches. Titi Camara finally broke the stalemate on 48 minutes when he picked up a long ball from deep inside his own area and he gratefully let fly with the left foot past the Rwandan goalkeeper for his second goal of the championship.

Henriette Elias, Rwanda's goal hero against Tunisia, would have cancelled the Guinean lead earlier in the 69th minute but his effort came off a defender for a corner kick which came to nothing.

Souleymane Youla had a chance to wrap up the game for Guinea in the 71st minute when he rounded up goalkeeper Ramazani Nkunzingoma but his effort came off the woodwork. -Reuters