Both teams found it hard to carve out clear openings and it took until the 42nd minute before either managed a shot on target. Kamory Doumbia came closest to breaking the deadlock, although the midfielder knew little about the fierce shot from Eagles team-mate Nathan Gassama that struck his shin and deflected a hair's breadth past the post 10 minutes into the second half. Substitute El Fardou Ben had Comoros' best chance, seeing a left-footed drive from an angle bring a fine one-handed save from Djigui Diarra, while Rafiki Said had an effort cleared off the line which was then correctly ruled offside by a late flag. Mali substitute Amadou Haidara was the recipient of an extremely harsh red card with two minutes of regular time to play, but even with 10 men the West Africans had no problem holding on for a draw to finish Group A unbeaten with three points, while Comoros' two points will not be enough to see them finish as one of the best third-place sides because of their inferior goal difference. Results in Group A and Group B on Monday mean Benin, Sudan and Mozambique are all now guaranteed passage through to the last 16 before their respective final fixtures. Mali's reward for second place in Group A behind hosts Morocco is a tie against the runners-up from Group C - Tunisia, Tanzania or Uganda - in Casablanca on Saturday (19:00 GMT).

In a see-saw game, Oswin Appollis' late penalty helped Bafana Bafana finish second in Group B, behind Egypt who earlier drew their final game 0-0 against Angola, with Zimbabwe eliminated in fourth. South Africa made a flying start against their neighbours, taking the lead after seven minutes when Tshepang Moremi's shot took a wicked deflection off Divine Lunga to loop over stranded goalkeeper Washington Arubi. Zimbabwe responded in style, with Tawanda Maswanhise producing a moment of brilliance by dancing through before firing one of the goals of the tournament into the bottom corner of the net. The second half began with even greater intensity and the 1996 champions restored their advantage in the 50th minute when Burnley striker Lyle Foster pounced on a back header, beating Arubi to the ball to nod home his second goal of the group stage. Zimbabwe made a triple substitution to inject fresh urgency and refused to wilt, with their persistence rewarded via a huge slice of luck when goalkeeper Ronwen Williams' save sent the ball cannoning off the face of covering defender Aubrey Modiba and into the net. Appollis then converted from the spot after Warriors skipper Marvelous Nakamba was penalised for a diving handball following the intervention of the video assistant referee. South Africa will face the runners-up from Group F - Ivory Coast, Cameroon or Mozambique - in Rabat on Sunday (19:00 GMT), while Zimbabwe are yet to progress from the group stage in any of their six Afcon appearances.

Jack Clarke's effort took a huge deflection off former Town defender Luke Woolfenden to put the visitors in front with less than 20 minutes to play and sub Wes Burns' finish wrapped up the points. The away side had dominated the first half and only a superb save from Carl Rushworth in the Sky Blues' goal stopped Jack Taylor scoring. Coventry improved after the interval and Christian Walton had to be sharp to get down to Haji Wright's effort from outside the area but that was as good as it got for the oddly out-of sorts hosts. Victory for Kieran McKenna's side was their second over Coventry this month - following their 3-0 win at Portman Road - and cut the gap to second-placed Middlesbrough to two points for the time being. Frank Lampard's men remain eight clear of Boro but that could be cut to five should they beat Hull City later on Monday evening.

The Atlas Lions, who only had a two-point cushion over second-placed Mali after taking four points from their first two games, started with intent in Rabat and Ayoub El Kaabi headed them in front in the ninth minute from a short corner routine. Brahim Diaz made it 2-0 midway through the half, slotting in Abde Ezzalzouli's low cross from the centre of the box for his third goal of the finals. El Kaabi netted a brilliant bicycle kick five minutes into the second half to make it 3-0, with the goal ruled onside after a check by the video assistant referee (VAR). Morocco, chasing their first Afcon title since 1976, had the luxury of introducing influential Paris St-Germain right-back Hakimi just after the hour mark following nearly two months on the sidelines with an ankle problem. Hakimi almost got in on the act with nine minutes remaining but had a low effort palmed away by Chipolopolo goalkeeper Willard Mwanza. Walid Regragui's side will remain in the capital to face a third-placed finisher from Group C, D or E on Sunday, 4 January (16:00 GMT). Results in Group A and Group B on Monday mean Benin, Sudan and Mozambique are all now guaranteed passage through to the last 16 before their respective final fixtures. Zambia, meanwhile, exit the tournament and are now 13 games without a win at the Afcon finals - a run stretching all the way back to their semi-final victory over Ghana before their fairytale triumph in Gabon in 2012.

In a much-anticipated early showdown between two potential challengers for the title, Junior Tchamadeu struck a deflected equaliser less than six minutes after Amad had exquisitely curled the Elephants in front as part of a result which ensures both sides remain a point clear of Mozambique at the top of Group F and also eliminates Gabon. Manchester United forward Amad, who scored the only goal in his country's opening win over Mozambique, collected Ghislain Konan's crossfield pass on a counter-attack and produced an effort worthy of watching France striker Kylian Mbappe from the edge of the box, finding the far corner of Devis Epassy's net to break the deadlock in the 51st minute. His strike was part of an extraordinary flurry of action at the start of the second half, arriving shortly after Ivory Coast's Franck Kessie had a deft finish ruled out for offside and Danny Namaso hit the crossbar via two deflections at the other end. A relatively quiet first period offered uncompromising intensity and glimpses of the entertainment to come, including a shot against the woodwork by Cameroon debutant Christian Kofane. All four Group F teams play their third and final matches of the initial stage on Wednesday (19:00 GMT), when Ivory Coast face Gabon in Marrakech and Cameroon meet Mozambique in Agadir.