Tunisia ended Madagascar's fairytale Africa Cup of Nations run in the quarter-finals on Thursday with a 3-0 win over the tournament debutants in Cairo.

Ferjani Sassi's heavily deflected strike gave Tunisia the lead early in the second half at Al Salam Stadium and Youssef Msakni squeezed home a second on 60 minutes.

Naim Sliti added a third in injury time to send Tunisia through to a semi-final showdown with Sadio Mane's Senegal, with the Carthage Eagles into the last four for the first time since clinching their only title when they hosted the 2004 edition.

"We're the first to beat Madagascar. We had to do it to qualify and that proves the quality of this team," said Tunisia coach Alain Giresse.

"When you get to this stage, for which Tunisia was waiting for several years... We want to go as far as possible. We haven't stolen it from anyone, we deserve it."

Madagascar coach Nicolas Dupuis, whose contract was set to expire at the end of the competition, admitted Tunisia were simply too strong.

"I'm very proud of what the players have done since the start of the tournament. I tip my hat to them," said Dupuis.

"Today the step was too high. As for my future, it doesn't matter much. I'm someone loyal and my priority is Madagascar."

Elsewhere, title favorites Algeria beat Cote d'Ivoire 4-3 on penalties in Suez on Thursday to the relief of Baghdad Bounedjah and set up a semi-final against Nigeria.

The quarter-final finished 1-1 after extra time with Sofiane Feghouli giving Algeria a 20th-minute lead that was canceled by Jonathan Kodjia on 62 minutes.

In the shootout, Youcef Belaili struck the woodwork when he had a chance to clinch victory for Algeria, then Cote d'Ivoire captain Serey Die hit the same post and his team were eliminated. 

Forward Bounedjah missed a penalty in the second half of regular time and was visibly upset by his failure, fearing it would cost Algeria a first last-four place since 2010.

It was a tense tussle between former champions, but 58 fouls and 22 of 36 goal attempts finishing off target prevented it from becoming a spectacle.

Shootout victories are classified as draws so Algeria surrendered the last 100 percent record in the tournament after wins over Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Guinea.

"The match was very difficult as the Ivory Coast were compact, organized and waiting for mistakes from us," said Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi. 

"My thoughts are with Youcef Atal after he came off in the first half with a shoulder injury. This is the only dark spot tonight.

"I think we are heading towards the end (of the tournament for him). A player like him deserved to go into the next battle, against Nigeria."