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Madjid Bougherra (L) of Algeria and Ze Kalanga of Angola vie during the third qualifing round match between Angola and Algeria during African Cup of Nations football championships CAN2010 at November 11 stadium in Luanda.

Angola and Algeria became the latest teams to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations' quarter-finals after a 0-0 draw here on Monday.

The split result suited both teams perfectly, with Angola going through as Group A winners on five points and Algeria as runners-up on four points.

Mali, who beat Malawi in the simultaneous game up in Cabinda 3-1, were also on four points but missed out on the head-to head performance with Algeria.

Angola now progress to face the runners-up of Group B - either Ivory Coast, Ghana or Burkina Faso, in their Luanda fortress on Sunday, with Algeria taking on the Group B winners in Cabinda the same day.

A traffic snarl up outside meant the game started with the 11 November stadium only half full, the crowd including the Algerian supporters - all ten of them - and Angola's number one fan, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

Angola coach Manuel Jose made two changes from the XI that saw off Malawi 2-0, with Jamuana starting for suspended Stelvio and Zekalanga coming in for injured star striker Flavio, scorer of three of Angola's six goals up to Monday.

Algeria had only one alteration from the side that beat Mali 1-0, with Blackpool attacker Hamer Bouazza taking the place of Strasbourg midfielder Yassine Bezzazz.

The World Cup qualifiers were at the hosts' heels from kick-off, desperate to avoid the ignominy of a first round exit with South Africa 2010 looming.

After an open first quarter Angola were looking dangerous on the attack, with Mabina for one testing Desert Foxes' keeper Faouzi Chaouchi in the 17th minute.

Down at the other end Nadir Belhadj floated in a 40m freekick from the right but Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra failed to make proper contact and keeper Carlos Fernandes dealt comfortably with the threat.

On the half hour Chaouchi could only punch away Manucho's centred shot as the evenly balanced first half continued at a breathless pace.

Angola had their best chance two minutes from the break when Zekalanga slid the ball over to Djalma waiting in the box only for his close range shot to lack the necessary ooomph to cause Chaouchi much concern.

Minutes after the restart Zuela was stretchered off after suffering an injury in his successful bid to stop Karim Matmour connecting with a potentially damaging cross from the left.

Defender Dias Caires entered the fray in his place.

On the hour Algeria coach Rabah Saadane had his head in his hands when Bouzza split open the Angola defence, charging into the right of the box but his angled shot went the wrong side of the far post.

Jose then sent on the hugely popular Job for Zekelanga and Saadane introduced Lazio striker Mourad Meghni for Bouazza.

The by now 50,000 capacity crowd was desperate for a goal from their men in red and black but the punch had gone out of the game with the draw suiting them and the 1990 champions from North Africa just fine.