2017 Africa Cup of Nations: Cameroon qualify with win in Mauritania

Cameroon winger Edgar Salli scored the winning goal for the Indomitable Lions

Cameroon qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 1-0 win away to Mauritania in Group M.

A goal from winger Edgar Salli after 31 minutes was enough to send the Indomitable Lions through to Gabon.

Mauritania were put under further pressure in the second half after defender Moustapha Diaw was sent off.

Cameroon become the third team to reach Gabon 2017, joining Algeria and Morocco in the finals.

23-year-old Edgar Salli, from Swiss club Saint Gallen, struck on the half-hour mark at a packed 10,000-seat national stadium in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott.

Mauritania failed to clear a free-kick and Salli pounced on the loose ball just outside the penalty area and slammed it past diving goalkeeper Souleymane Diallo.

The home team, who began the match one point behind the visitors, pressed continuously for an equaliser after half-time.

But hopes of drawing level were dealt a huge blow on 68 minutes when defender Moustapha Diaw was shown a red card after clashing with striker Karl Toko.

Frustrated home hurled missiles at the Cameroon bench in the closing stages with reports of Cameroon's Belgium-born coach Hugo Broos being struck by an object.

Victory lifted Cameroon to 11 points in Group M and an unassailable four-point advantage over Mauritania as each country has only one fixture to play.

Earlier on Friday, a win for Tunisia meant that Group A of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will be settled with the final ties in September.

Tunisia, who were 3-nil winners in Djibouti, took the lead after 15 minutes when France-born Naim Sliti scored for the Carthage Eagles after being set-up by Wahbi Khazri.

23-year-old Sliti has been linked with a move away from French second division side Red Star ahead of next season.

Both sides then hit the woodwork before Sliti turned provider on the stroke of half-time as he passed to Hamdi Harbaoui to score Tunisia's second.

Esperance striker Taha Yassine Khenissi replaced Harbaoui shortly after the break and then scored Tunisia's third on the hour mark.

The other game on Friday saw Libya draw 1-1 with Morocco, who have already qualified for Gabon.

Munir Masoud scored a stoppage-time equaliser for Libya as they ended Morocco's 100 percent run in Group F.

Libya, banned from playing at home on security grounds, were a goal down in the first half at the Rades Stadium in Tunisia after Nabil Dirar netted with a powerful volley from close range.

Twenty more matches over the weekend complete the penultimate round of qualifiers.

The group winners and the best two runners-up will qualify for the finals along with hosts Gabon.