Watford players Adam Masina and Imran Louza extended their stay at the African Cup of Nations as Morocco came from behind to beat Malawi 2-1 in the round of 16.

Malawi, through to the knockout stages for the first time after qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams, took a shock lead in the seventh minute when Gabadinho Mhango cut in from the left to fire a spectacular long-range effort into the top corner.

However, the Flames – minnows in the tournament at 129th in the FIFA rankings – were soon pegged back as Wolves defender Romain Saiss sent a close-range effort against the crossbar before Youssef En-Nesyri headed in an equaliser during first-half stoppage-time.

Morocco completed the turnaround with 20 minutes left when Paris St Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi converted another superb free-kick to send the Atlas Lions through to a quarter-final against either Egypt or Ivory Coast.

Masina played the full 90 minutes of the match, while Louza was substituted after 80.

Elsewhere, Ismaila Sarr's Senegal also made it to the quarter finals of the competition, beating nine-man Cape Verde 2-0.

Sarr returned to Cameroon to join up with his national team yesterday after undergoing rehabilitation on his knee injury in Barcelona.

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse hopes that he might be able to use the winger in the latter stages on the tournament.