Egypt on Wednesday booked a place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-finals as Group D winners with a 1-0 win over Ghana, who finished as runners-up.

Roma forward Mohamed Salah made all the difference in the 11th minute, firing a ferocious free-kick through a gap in Ghana’s defensive wall.

Record seven-time African champions Egypt knew a point would be good enough to take them through to the knockout stage and after Roma forward Salah put them ahead they were contented to sit back and protect their position.

In another match also played on Wednesday, Mali were knocked out of AFCON as they drew with Uganda in their final Group D game. Both teams failed to qualify.

Alain Giresse’s side needed to win to have a chance of making the last eight, but would have been eliminated anyway because of Egypt’s victory over Ghana.

Egypt will face Morocco and Ghana will take on DR Congo in last-eight matches on Sunday.