Ivory Coast reaches quarterfinals at African Cup

By foxsports
Published

Didier Drogba scored Ivory Coast's final goal, and the Elephants advanced to the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations with a 3-1 victory over Ghana on Friday night.

Favored to win its first title since 1992, Ivory Coast went ahead in the 23rd when Gervinho tapped in Salomon Kalou's cross. Siaka Tiene scored off a kick free in the 67th and Drogba added a goal in the 90th. The Elephants finished a man short after Emmanuel Eboue was ejected in the 56th for a foul on Agyemang Opoku.

Ghana scored when Asamoah Gyan converted a penalty kick in second-half injury time. Michael Essien entered for the Black Stars at the start of the second half, his first game since injurying a hamstring in Chelsea's Champions League match against APOEL Nicosia on Dec. 8.

Ivory Coast (1-0-1) leads Group B with four points. Ghana (0-1) must defeat Burkina Faso (0-0-1) on Tuesday to advance. Ghana's opener was delayed when Togo withdrew after an attack on its bus that killed two members of its delegation and the driver.