The war for quarter-final tickets in Group A of the 29^th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ended this evening with giant killers Cape Verde and hosts South Africa as the winners while Angola and Morocco must now pack their bags and return home.

Debutants Cape Verde, who bundled out mighty Cameroon in the race for South Africa 2013, came from behind to stun Angola 2-1 and end up with five points – the same as South Africa.

The Cape Verdeans had appeared to be doomed when Nando scored an own goal in the 33^rd minute. However, goals by Fernando Varela in the 81^st minute and Heldon Nhuck on the dot of 90 minutes upturned the result at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, Morocco failed to hold on to their lead, as South Africa came back twice to pull off a 2-2 draw and finish top of the group.

The Moroccans had drawn the first blood with a ninth minute goal by Issah El Adoua but the hosts equalised through May Mahlangu in the 70^th minute. Abdelilah Hafidi restored the North Africans’ lead in 81 minutes but Siyabonga Sangweni cancelled it out five minutes later.

Cape Verde’s last minute goal against Angola completed an evening of drama as no one knew who would qualify until that very minute.

The tournament continues tomorrow with the last Group B matches pitching Niger and Ghana and DR Congo against Mali.

•Photo, courtesy Goal.com, shows action in the opening match between Cape Verde and South Africa on Jan. 19.