Match ends, Sierra Leone 0, Equatorial Guinea 1.
Sierra LeoneSierra Leone0Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea1
Equatorial Guinea reached the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Sierra Leone 1-0 - a result which eliminated the Leone Stars.
Midfielder Pablo Ganet curled in from the edge of the area to net the only goal seven minutes before the break.
Sierra Leone had needed a point to progress, but veteran striker Kei Kamara saw an 84th-minute penalty saved by Jesus Owono.
The Equatoguineans finish second in Group E behind Ivory Coast.
Juan Micha's side will now face the winner of Group F - any one of The Gambia, Mali and Tunisia - on Wednesday, 26 January.
The late missed penalty was harsh on Kamara, the 37-year-old who had scored the winner against Benin last June which had secured Sierra Leone's qualification for the tournament.
Heartbreak for Kamara
Former Norwich City and Middlesbrough man Kamara took the responsibility from 12 yards after Ganet had brought down Issa Kallon, but Owonu launched himself to his left to claw his attempt past the post.
The Leone Stars, making their first appearance at the Nations Cup since 1996, had drawn their first two games against defending champions Algeria and two-time winners Ivory Coast to give themselves a chance of going through.
Yet they struggled to create meaningful chances in Limbe, although Steven Caulker headed across goal and wide just after the hour mark as they sought an equaliser.
Sierra Leone had Kwame Quee sent off late on for a second bookable offence and their result, coupled with Algeria's 3-1 defeat by Ivory Coast, means Tunisia and debutants Comoros are guaranteed their own spots in the knock-out stages.
Equatoguineas maintain qualification run
Finishing second behind Ivory Coast continues Equatorial Guinea's proud record of always progressing past the group stage on their appearances at the Nations Cup.
The Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder) were quarter-finalists on their debut as co-hosts in 2012 before finishing fourth three years later as sole organisers.
Micha's well-organised side had upset Algeria in their second group outing, and Ganet's first-time strike was a true moment of quality after he was fed by Iban Salvador.
Salvador, industrious throughout, thought he had a chance to seal the match from an injury-time penalty after being brought down by Mohamed Buya Turay as Equatorial Guinea mounted a late counter-attack.
But, following a video assistant referee review, the foul was adjudged to have been just outside the area, and the Fuenlabrada midfielder took the ball to the corner.
Sierra Leone 'stand by Kamara'
Sierra Leone defender Steven Caulker told BBC Sport Africa:
"Most of us are here because of Kei. He is our ringleader and everything to us.
"We stand by him.
"He scored the penalty to get us here in the first place. And he was brave enough to step up and take this penalty.
"We gave it everything as a team and as a unit. We gave it everything until the end and go away with our heads held high."
Line-ups
Sierra Leone
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Nbalie Kamara
- 2Kakay
- 17Bangura
- 5CaulkerBooked at 71mins
- 3WrightBooked at 71minsSubstituted forKallonat 75'minutes
- 6Kamara
- 27DumbuyaSubstituted forBuya Turayat 45'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 7QueeBooked at 90mins
- 10Kamara
- 19BunduSubstituted forKamaraat 53'minutes
- 28KamaraBooked at 23mins
Substitutes
- 4Kamara
- 8Fofanah
- 9Williams
- 11Kaikai
- 12Kamara
- 13Kargbo
- 14Buya Turay
- 15Dunia
- 16Sesay
- 20Mansaray
- 22Kallon
- 23Caulker
Equatorial Guinea
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Owono Ngua Akeng
- 15Akapo MartínezBooked at 61mins
- 21Orozco Fernández Obiang Obono
- 16Coco-Bassey Oubiña
- 11Owono Nchama
- 6Salvador Edú
- 22Ganet
- 8MachínBooked at 64minsSubstituted forBuyla Samat 64'minutes
- 17Miranda BoachoBooked at 76minsSubstituted forBelimaat 88'minutes
- 4Bikoro Akieme NchamaSubstituted forNlavo Asuéat 64'minutes
- 18Hanza MehaSubstituted forNsueat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Mayé
- 5Anvene Ebang Elá
- 7Belima
- 9Siafá Etoha
- 10Nsue
- 12Magno Mba Bicoro
- 14Buyla Sam
- 19Nlavo Asué
- 20Eneme Bocari
- 23Meseguer
- 24Balboa Bandeira
- 28Nsue Ntugu Akele
- Referee:
- Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour
Match Stats
Home TeamSierra LeoneAway TeamEquatorial Guinea
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home24
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sierra Leone 0, Equatorial Guinea 1.
Booking
Mohamed Buya Turay (Sierra Leone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
VAR Decision: No Penalty Equatorial Guinea.
Post update
Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Mohamed Buya Turay (Sierra Leone).
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Kwame Quee (Sierra Leone) for a bad foul.
Post update
Attempt missed. Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Pablo Ganet.
Substitution
Substitution, Equatorial Guinea. Rubén Belima replaces Josete Miranda.
Post update
Attempt missed. Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Josete Miranda following a fast break.
Post update
Offside, Equatorial Guinea. Jannick Buyla tries a through ball, but Emilio Nsue is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jannick Buyla (Equatorial Guinea) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emilio Nsue with a headed pass.
Post update
Corner, Sierra Leone. Conceded by Jesús Owono.
Post update
Penalty saved! Kei Kamara (Sierra Leone) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Pablo Ganet (Equatorial Guinea) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty Sierra Leone. Issa Kallon draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Corner, Sierra Leone. Conceded by Basilio Ndong.
Post update
Attempt missed. Luís Nlavo (Equatorial Guinea) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Pablo Ganet.
Post update
Esteban Obiang (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by John Kamara (Sierra Leone).
