Cote d’Ivoire reach last eight with Burkina Faso win

[Kofi Addae, GNA Special Correspondent in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, Courtesy CAF]

Malabo, Jan. 27, GNA - Cote d’Ivoire became the second team after co-hosts Equatorial Guinea to reach the last eight after they chalked a 2-0 win over rivals Burkina Faso on Thursday evening in Malabo in their African Cup of Nations tournament .

Salomon Kalou opened the scores in the first half whilst an own goal by Burkina Faso's defender Bakary Kone in the closing stages of the game ensured the Stallions join flops Senegal as the teams to exit the competition so far.

Yet with no so an impressive performance by the pre-tournament favourites, the Ivorians, however, made certain of the three points to complete their hundred percent run.

Burkina Faso were in a good position to score as early as the sixth minute when their danger-man Jonathan Pitroipa appeared to have been fouled by Ivorian defender Souleymane Bamba, but the referee ruled the tackle legitimate.

On 18 minutes, Kalou fired in the opener with a volley from a Yaya Toure cross from the right. The Stallions also had their chances but failed to score despite youngster Alain Traore and captain Moumouni Dagano coming close. The Ivorians were very ordinary in the second half allowing the Burkinabes to raid their half, but on several occasions goalkeeper Boubacar Barry and his defence came to their rescue.

Whilst Burkina Faso pressed on for the equalizer, they were let down by Kone, who inadvertently headed Arthur Boka’s risk-free cross from way off back into his own net eight minutes from time.

It was the goal that broke the camel’s back bringing an expected end of the Stallions at the competition with a game to spare.

In the other Group B match, Angola were held to a two all draw by Sudan. The Desert Hawks came from behind twice with Mohamed Bashir grabbing a brace whilst Manucho also scored twice for the Angolans.