All the group results

Nigeria reached the quarter finals of the African Cup of Nations as they wore down stubborn Benin in Sfax.

The tournament minnows held out for 35 minutes before Garba Lawal chested down and poked home a left-foot shot.

Nigeria's second came after Anicet Adjamossi lost the ball in his own area allowing John Utaka to slam home.

But Benin deserved a goal and Moussa Latoundji arrived unchallenged to volley home in injury time, Benin's first goal of the tournament.

Nigeria's narrow win set up a quarter-final clash against defending African Cup of Nations champions Cameroon.

But the Super Eagles will have to show a marked improvement if they are to continue their progress in the tournament.

They dominated for most of the game but laboured and lacked hunger against the lowest-ranked team at the tournament.

Arsenal's Nwankwo Kanu kept his place up front, despite Osaze Odemwingie's two-goal performance against South Africa.

But Kanu wasted Nigeria's first chance of the game after eight minutes when he blazed high and wide when a low cross would have been the sensible option.

John Utaka is given an easy chance for the second goal

Julius Aghahowa added another spectacular miss, though his lash into the side-netting would have been ruled out for offside had it flown the other side of the post.

But Benin's stubborn resistance was broken on 35 minutes.

A Nigeria corner was punched clear by impressive goalkeeper Maximes Agueh, but the ball was not properly cleared and Lawal chested down and screwed home from close range.

Nigeria remained patient in the second half but Kanu wasted a chance to extend the lead when he took to long to shoot from Okocha's superb pass.

Benin chances were rare, but Nigeria keeper Vincent Enyeama was tested by a stinging Oumar Tchomogo free-kick midway through the second half.

Kanu was denied again when his close-range shot was brilliantly blocked by the alert Stanislas Toclomiti.

But Benin, having defended so well throughout, threw away a second goal 19 minutes from time.

Anicet Adjamossi attempted to dribble the ball away from danger in his own penalty area but was robbed by Utaka, who was left with a simple task to slam into the empty net.

But Benin's resilience deserved some reward and Latoundji provided it with a last-minute consolation.

Sloppy Nigeria defending allowed a long throw to drift across the penalty area, where Latoundji arrived unnoticed to steer home.

Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama, George Abbey, Ifeanyi Udeze, Isaac Okoronkwo, Joseph Yobo, Seyi Olofinjana, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, John Utaka, Garba Lawal, Nwankwo Kanu, Julius Aghahowa. Substitutes: Greg Etafia, Joseph Enakarhire, Ikpe Ekong, Ifeanyi Ekwueme, Austin Ejide, Osaze Odemwingie, Romanus Orjinta, Pius Ikedia.

Benin: Maximes Agueh, Sammuel Emmanuil, Damien Chrysostome, Jonas Oketola, Stanislas Toclomiti, Oumar Tchomogo, Moussa Latoundji, Anicet Adjamossi, Seidah Tchomogo, Joceyln Ahoueya, Wassiou Oladipupo. Substitutes: Rachad Chitou, Romuald Boco, Laurent Djaffo, Muri Ogunbiyi, Agnide Moustapha, Remi Sylvain, Rodrique Akpakoun.

Referee: Fatah Essam Abdel (EGY)