Nigeria convincingly beat tournament hosts South Africa to advance to the last eight of the African Nations Championship this evening.

The Super Eagles began the day outside the top two but advance to the quarter-finals as runners-up thanks to their 3-1 victory in Cape Town, where both sides had a man sent off.

Goals in the first half from Ejike Uzoenyi and Ifeanyi Ede gave Nigeria a solid half-time lead before they consolidated it 20 minutes into the second half, with Uzoenyi again on the scoresheet.

Solomon Kwambe saw red for Nigeria in the 74th minute and South Africa's Vuyo Mere was also dismissed two minutes later.

Bernard Parker scored a late consolation, his fourth goal of the tournament, but it was not enough for South Africa, who drop to third in Group A because of Mali's draw against Mozambique in the other game tonight.

Nigeria will next play in seven days' time in Mangaung against the winner of Group B.