Tunisia started the ACN warm-up on the wrong foot and lost 2-0 to Ivory Coast.
Goals from Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba helped Ivory Coast ease to a 2-0 win against Tunisia in Abu Dhabi Friday night.
Chelsea forward Kalou put thoughts of a potential move to Arsenal to one side as he broke the deadlock with an excellent solo effort in the 43rd minute.
The Tunisian rearguard had performed admirably in the first half to keep out The Elephants, but they found themselves 2-0 down within two minutes of the restart as Kalou’s club-mate Drogba fired home from 12 yards after Arthur Boka’s shot was handled in the box by Karim Hagui.
The men in orange were reduced to 10 men with 17 minutes to go after Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote was guilty of a push on Tunisian centre-back Majdi Traoui and was given a straight red by referee Ammar Al Junaibi.
Tunisia had chances to nick a goal in the final 10 minutes, as first Saber Khelifa and then Sami Allegui found themselves through on goal.
However, Ivory Coast keeper Boubacar Barry was able to keep out both efforts, and The Elephants were able to see out the win, and should have had the chance to extend their lead from the spot as Aymen Abdennour got away with a trip on Bony Wilfried right at the death.
Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui – who insisted after the game that Kalou’s focus had not been affected by the rumours linking him with Arsenal – was left to reflect on a comfortable night at Zayed Sports City.
“The match was very good for the Ivory Coast,” Zahoui said.
“The next match will be against Lybia, it will be a difficult game but we hope the preparation will continue to go well.
“The only problem today for the players of Ivory Coast was that they were nervous. I prefer for the next match that they are more calm.”
Watch the Goals:
Ivory Coast will share Group B at the January 21-February 12 African tournament with Angola, Burkina Faso and Sudan and many pundits believe they will contest the final against Ghana.
Tunisia are in Group C with co-hosts Gabon, Morocco and Niger and have completed their warm-ups after a win and draw against Spanish regional sides and a 3-0 victory over Sudan in the United Arab Emirates last Monday.
Ivory Coast return to the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi Monday for a warm-up with fellow qualifiers Libya before heading to Equatorial Guinea capital Malabo.
