Ivory Coast in quarters of Africa Cup

CABINDA - The Ivory Coast became the first team through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations when they beat Ghana’s Black Stars 3-1 in a Group B game played in Cabinda.

Although they played most of the second half with just ten men after Emmanuel Eboue was sent off for a two-footed challenge, the Elephants were simply too strong for Ghana and won through goals by Gervinho, Siaka Tiene and Didier Drogba here Friday.

Asamoah Gyan pulled one back for Ghana from the penalty spot in second half injury time.

After Togo’s withdrawal from the tournament following an attack on their team bus, which left the bus driver, as well as the assistant team coach and press officer dead, Ivory Coast, who are on four points, can no longer finish worse than second in the group.

Burkina Faso, who face Ghana in the final group game Tuesday are on one point, while Ghana have none.

After playing their opening game against Burkina Faso to a goalless draw, the Ivory Coast could not afford a defeat and they faced Ghana with much more purpose than they displayed in their first match.

Their first chance fell to Didier Zokora, but he saw his shot well saved by Richard Kingson in the 19th minute, with the Wigan custodian again denying the Sevilla midfielder just a few minutes later.

It was only a matter of time though, when the goal would fall and on 23 minutes Salomon Kalou played a through ball to Gervinho, who side-footed the ball into the net.

It took Ghana’s Black Star’s some time to get into the match, but Kwadwo Asamoah nearly found an equalizer six minutes from the break when his shot from the edge of the area forced Boubacar Barry into a great save.

At half time Ghana coach Milovan Rajeva brought on Chelsea’s Michael Essien in an attempt to strengthen their midfield.

Their efforts to get back into the game received a serious set- back ten minutes after the restart though when Arsenal’s Eboue was sent off for a lunging two-footed tackle on Opoku Agyemang.

Ghana immediately made their numerical advantage count as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Matthew Amoah saw his volley strike the post in the 57th minute, while Barry needed to make a leaping save shortly afterwards from an Asamoah strike.

Against the run of play Tiene made it two for the Elephants in the 66th minute with a free-kick from 32 metres which the Valenciennes defender placed just under the crossbar in the left corner, beating Kingson.

Although playing with a man more Ghana could not come back into the game and Drogba gave Ivory Coast a third goal in the last minute of the game with a powerful header from an Abdelkader Keita cross.

Instead of celebrating Drogba’s goal, Ivorian goalkeeper Barry held a scarf with a message in support of the Togo side into the TV cameras.

Three minutes into injury time Gyan pulled one back for the Black Stars from the penalty spot after Scottish-based Souleymane Bamba brought down a Ghanaian player in the area.