Ivory Coast, Morocco, Mali start well

Nigeria fans react during their team's Africa Cup of Nations Group B defeat by the Ivory Coast in Sekondi, Ghana, on Monday. PHOTO: AP

Salomon Kalou's winner started the Ivory Coast's Africa Cup of Nations campaign encouragingly on Monday, giving them a 1-0 win over Nigeria, while Morocco and Mali also won their opening games.

Morocco scored twice in the opening five minutes enroute to a 5-1 rout of Namibia in Group A, with Soufiane Alloudi accounting for three goals in the first half.

Sevilla striker Freddie Kanoute converted a penalty early in the second half of Mali's 1-0 win over Benin, leaving it and Ivory Coast tied atop Group B.

Benin defender Alain Gaspoz fouled Dramane Traore, and Kanoute calmly sent goalkeeper Rachad Chitou the wrong way.

"It was quite tough. The pitch was quite heavy because it was very hot today," Kanoute said on Ghana television. "Benin worked hard today and the most important thing is that we won."

Mali meet Nigeria on Friday, with Ivory Coast facing Benin the same day.

Kanoute remained optimistic Mali can reach the quarter-finals.

"We are going to play two very good teams, Nigeria and Ivory Coast," he said. "If we play seriously like today then we can win."

In the 66th minute of a tense match in Sekondi, Kalou beat three Nigerian defenders before sending a low shot from close range past goalkeeper Austin Ejide.

The match was a repeat of the 2006 semi-finals, which Ivory Coast won on Didier Drogba's lone second-half goal.

Obafemi Martins started for two-time African Cup champion Nigeria in an all-English Premier League strike force with Nwankwo Kanu, Aiyegbini Yakubu and John Utaka.

Led by Arsenal defender Kolo Toure, Ivory Coast turned aside all challenges.

Drogba led the Ivorian front line alongside Chelsea teammate Kalou, but it struggled against the Super Eagles defense and Everton's Joseph Yobo until Kalou's winner.

Kanu put Nigeria's first wide from 20m and defender Taye Taiwo hit the crossbar with a free kick in the 15th.

Newcastle striker Martins had an equalizing opportunity from close range for Nigeria in the 74th but was thwarted by goalkeeper Boubacar Barry.

Back in Accra, the Atlas Lions delighted the handful of Moroccan fans by taking a 4-1 lead by halftime.

Besides Alloudi's three, Tarik Sektioui converted a 39th-minute penalty after Michael Basser was fouled, and substitute Monsef Zerka completed the scoring by heading in a corner in the 73rd.

Brian Brendell accounted for Namibia's only goal in the 23rd.

Morocco climbed ahead of host Ghana atop of Group A on goal difference, and can qualify for the quarter-finals with a victory over Guinea tomorrow.

"It's up to us to use our qualities. It is up to them [Guinea] to adapt their game to ours," Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh said. "Qualification could be decided [tomorrow]. We know we will go through if we win."

Alloudi was removed from the field on a stretcher after a taking a hard foul and is doubtful for tomorrow.

"As soon as the match finished, I asked how he was. I asked for some news from the doctor," Chamakh said. "Soufiane is a very good player. But we are a strong group and there are others who can replace him."

Namibia coach Arie Schans was shocked by his team's performance.

"I am very disappointed with the way we played in the first five minutes," Schans said. "At halftime, I told my players we behaved like school kids against professional players."

Yesterday, Cameroon were to face Egypt and Sudan were to take on Zambia in Group C.