The Stallions of Burkina Faso have defeated Gabon 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time to qualify to the next stage of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021.

Substitute Ismahila scored the winning penalty to set up a quarter-final clash against Tunisia who sent Nigeria home with a 1-0 victory in the last 16 match.

The Burkinabes started brightly against the Panthers winning a penalty inside 13 minutes in the first knockout match of the tournament but Bertrand Traore failed to convert as he hit the woodwork with the Gabonese goalie beaten.

Adama Guira scored an own goal on the stroke of full time to level the score for the 10-man Gabon who battled to take the match into penalties.

Burkina Faso will play the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia who produced an upset against one of the tournament favorites Nigeria.

The Super Eagles were the only side to win all three group games in the tournament, but they succumbed to the Tunisians thanks to a Youssef Msakni long-range effort that beat Nigeria goalie Maduka Okoye two minutes into the second half.