Group winners Tunisia will meet the hosts Equatorial Guinea in the last eight, while DR Congo will face Congo.
DR Congo went out of the 2013 tournament at the group stage after drawing all three matches, but an identical record this time out sees Florent Ibenge's side progress at the expense of Cape Verde on goals scored.
Ahmed Akaichi gave the 2004 winners the lead just after the half-hour mark with an instinctive header past DR Congo's veteran goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba, but DR Congo levelled midway through the second half thanks to substitute Jeremy Bokila's sharp left-footed finish.
Ibenge and his Tunisia counterpart Georges Leekens shared a warm embrace at the final whistle, as the realisation that both sides had made it through to the last eight sank in.
KEY MOMENTS
9' – CHANCE! Chikhaoui jinks down the right, and Sassi sees his effort cleared off the line by Joel Kimwaki.
10' – CHANCE! 38-year-old DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba makes a mess of the second cross in, but Chikhaoui is unable to direct the ball goalwards at the far post.
20'- SAVE! Kidiaba makes a good save low to his left from Chikhaoui following a fine Tunisia move down the left.
28' - SAVE! Aymen Mathlouthi beats clear Jean Kasusula's left-footed free-kick to the far corner.
31' - GOAL! DR Congo 0-1 Tunisia. Akaichi heads home Chikhaoui's deflected shot from inside the box for his second goal of the tournament.
62' – CHANCE! Mbokani gets above Ben Youssef to reach Ndombe's cross from the right, but the Dynamo Kyiv striker's header is just over the bar.
64' – CHANCE! Tunisia break quickly, but Khazri blazes over on the turn from six yards out! What a golden chance for second for the Eagles of Carthage.
66' - GOAL! Tunisia 1-1 DR Congo. The substitute Bokila drills home left-footed after losing Abdennour as he ran on to Mbokani's header.
73' – CHANCE! Younes almost turns in Maaloul's cross from the left, but Kidiaba makes the save. That would have been a goal with the Ludogorets' striker's first touch, had it gone in!
82' – CHANCE! Yacoubi makes a hash of a clearance at the far post, and Kasusula sees his shot whistle wide of the post.
KEY STATS
Tunisia are now unbeaten in four Africa Cup of Nations matches against DR Congo, with two wins and two draws.
The Eagles of Carthage have only kept one clean sheet in their last 11 Africa Cup of Nations games
DR Congo have drawn their last six Africa Cup of Nations matches, a tournament record.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo) The Crystal Palace winger was a constant threat for DR Congo in the second half, switching wings to try and torment the Tunisia backline. He had an off day with his shooting, but the quality of his link play ensured that DR Congo gained a foothold in the game after being outplayed during the first 45 minutes.
PLAYER RATINGS
DR Congo: Kidiaba 6, Mpeko 6, Kimwaki 6, Mongongu 6, Kasusula 7, Mbemba 6, Makiadi 6, Mubele 6, Mabwati 6, Bolasie 8, Mbokani 5. Subs: Kabananga 6, Bokila 8, Zakuani 6.
Tunisia: Mathlouthi 6, Maaloul 6, Abdennour 7 Ben Youssef 6, Yacoubi 6, H Mathlouthi 7, Ragued 7, Sassi 6, Chikhaoui 8, Khazri 6, Akaichi 6. Subs: Younes 6, Moncer 6, Nater 6.
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