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Ivory Coast qualify for the quarter-finals

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba controls the ball during their Africa Cup of Nations Group B match against Benin in Sekondi, Ghana, on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Superstar Didier Drogba scored the opening goal as Ivory Coast overwhelmed Benin 4-1 on Friday in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B match.

Yaya Toure, Abdelkader Keita and Aruna Dindane were also on target as the Ivorian "Elephants" justified media predictions of a mismatch by putting the Beninois "Squirrels" to flight after leading 2-0 at halftime.

Sweden-based Razack Omotoyossi scored a stoppage time consolation goal at Essipong Stadium.

Victory maintained the 100 percent record of the Ivorians after a 1-0 win over Nigeria last Monday and they became the first qualifiers for the quarter-finals.

But success may have come at a high price for the 1992 champions as Arsenal defender Kolo Toure was stretchered off just before halftime with a suspected groin injury.

"The Ivory Coast were simply stronger. They have players who can pounce on the slightest mistake, immediately, like Drogba," Benin coach Reinhard Fabisch said.

Chelsea star Drogba said: "The game was tough but we made it easier by scoring the first goal. Of course I'm happy to score the first goal. We've taken a step toward the quarter-finals, but we have a tough match to come, especially as my wife is from Mali."

The pre-match headlines were dominated by Germany-born Fabisch as he axed ace midfielder Muri Ogunbiyi for undisclosed disciplinary reasons and alleged being approached to fix the game against Mali last Monday.

Benin lost that match to a solitary goal and were expected to suffer a much heavier defeat against opponents rated joint favorites with hosts Ghana to lift the Cup.

Forecasts of a mismatch did not take long to materialize as the minnows came under pressure, with defender Damien Chrysostome shown a yellow card and goalkeeper Rachad Chitou flapping at a free kick before grabbing the ball.

Striker Dindane saw a header rebound off a post with 12 minutes gone.

This was the signal for an Ivorian onslaught, with Chitou foiling Drogba twice before the reigning African Footballer of the Year vented his fury at teammate Keita for deflecting wide an on-target free kick.

Benin threatened sporadically and it came as no surprise when Drogba broke the deadlock after 40 minutes, bursting between two defenders before steering a Yaya Toure pass wide of Chitou.

Benin's Seidath Tchomogo headed a corner narrowly wide, only for the west Africa giants to score again on 44 minutes.

This was a brotherly affair with Kolo Toure picking up a deep corner, passing two defenders and crossing low to the younger Yaya Toure, who scored the simplest goal of the tournament so far.

When Benin posed an early second half threat, goalkeeper Boubacar Barry dived to his right and pushing away a drive from captain Oumar Tchomogo.

Ivory Coast scored again after 53 minutes when Chrysostome was caught napping and dispossessed by Drogba, who sent Keita through to fire wide of Chitou into the far corner.

Beninois heads were dropping as they sensed a rout and Dindane made it 4-0 midway through the second half as Drogba flicked a corner back into the heart of the goalmouth and the France-based striker headed home.

Drogba, who had an operation last month leading to fears he might miss the biennial tournament, came off after 68 minutes to be replaced by Boubacar Sanogo.

Barry made another excellent save eight minutes from time, turning a fierce close-range drive from Oumar Tchomogo away for a corner, before being beaten by Omotoyossi in injury time.
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