Having earned a win and draw in their opening Group B matches, Nigeria were verge of the knock-out stages of the tournament with Africa’s most successful Olympic nation, having won gold at Atlanta 1996, sharing top spot with Algeria on four points.

The two teams played out a cagey 0-0 draw in their final match of the group in Dakar, with Nigerian striker Oghenekaro Etebo spurning the best three chances of the tie to give his team a win which would have secured top spot.

He was denied on each of the occasions by Algeria’s Abdelkadir Salhi, the highlight being the goalkeeper turning a first-half free kick onto the post to preserve his team’s clean sheet.

Following the stalemate Algeria were confirmed as group winners, while Nigeria progressed as runners-up after Egypt, quarter-finalists at London 2012, fell to a 1-0 defeat to Mali in M'Bour.

Mali, who had already been eliminated, secured the narrow victory through a deflected header from Souleymane Coulibaly in the 18th minute of the match with the result seeing them finish the group third and consign Egypt to last place.

"This is football, all made tactical mistakes, but no one is to blame individually,” outgoing coach Hossam El-Badry told Egyptian television having missed out on qualification to Rio 2016.

“We don't want to be cruel with players.”

The two finalists are guaranteed a place at Rio 2016, along with the winners of the third-place playoff. 

That means Nigeria will secure Olympic qualification should they overcome host nation Senegal, who finished top of Group A after winning all three matches.

South Africa, meanwhile, progressed from the group as runners-up after recovering from their loss against Senegal by overcoming Tunisia and Zambia, to set up a semi-final against Algeria.

The semi-finals are due to take place on Wednesday (December 9). 

The final and third-placed playoff in the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor stadium is scheduled for Saturday (December 12). 

Senegal stepped in as hosts earlier this year after the Democratic Republic of Congo withdrew from staging the tournament because of fears it would clash with the country's elections next year.

Gabon were shock winners of the inaugural event in Morocco in 2011, with the result seeing them qualify for London 2012.

So far, nine countries have qualified to take part in the men's football tournament at Rio 2016, including hosts Brazil, the runners-up at London 2012.

Others to have qualified are led by London 2012 gold medallists Mexico.

The others are Argentina, Denmark, Fiji, Germany, Honduras, Portugal and Sweden.

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March 2015: Senegal replace DR Congo as hosts of Rio 2016 Olympic football qualifying tournament