Ivory Coast have become the first nation to definitely be through to the quarter finals. This comes courtesy of their second win in the tournament; a rather flattering 3-0 victory over Tunisia. Tunisia will now meet Togo in the final group game in a winner goes through match. A 2-0 win for Togo also means that Algeria become the first nation who are unable to progress into the knock-out round, setting up a dead rubber with Ivory Coast who are guaranteed to win the group.
Ivory Coast were extremely comfortable against Tunisia who didn't turn up in the first half. However, Tunisia did start the better with a few early corners that came to nothing. Gervinho was again looking dangerous and looked to be linking up well with Lacina Traore who started ahead of Didier Drogba. After all the possession, the breakthrough finally came on 21-minutes when again Gervinho and Traore played a neat one-two before the Arsenal striker classily looped the ball into the top corner, his second in the tournament.
Salomon Kalou should have made it 2-0 soon after, but failed to do so. From there, Ivory Coast had complete control of the half without really creating any more clear cut chances. Tunisia did have a little spell of pressure in the last five minutes of the half, but Ivory Coast were still at their most comfortable.
Tunisia were more involved in the second half without really creating anything, Youseff Msakni once again looking like a threat. Ivory Coast thought they had hit Tunisia with a sucker punch when Kalou netted from a Gervinho cross, but it was wrongly ruled out for offside and Tunisia were still in the match. Tunisia's best chance of the match came five minutes from the end when Saber Khelifa volleyed a cross while in acres of space, but his volley was straight at Boubacar Barry and the striker probably should have done better.
It was surprise that the chance Khelifa missed would prove to be crucial as Ivory Coast went up the other end with Yaya Toure unleashing that Premier League quality to beat a couple of defenders before smashing an excellent shot home, assuring all three points to the Elephants with three minutes to go. The icing was put onto the cake when substitute Didier Ya Konan finished a low shot within seconds of coming on.
Algeria and Togo shared the early moments in the match with Emmanuel Adebayor and Sofiane Feghouli both looking in the mood. It was a Feghouli corner that gave Algeria their best chance of taking the lead but Adlene Guedioura's header was well saved by Kossi Agassa. Shortly afterwards, Togo would break the deadlock when Adebayor was able to beat the offside trap a coolly finish with 13-minutes of the half remaining.
A couple of saves from Agassa prevented Algeria equalising and Togo went in with the lead at half-time. Algeria became slightly ill tempered in the second half, even more so when their decent shouts for a penalty were waved away even though Dejen Dakonam did look to bring Islam Slimani down. Algeria did put a lot of pressure on Togo but the Togolese defence was standing strong despite conceding numerous corners and free-kicks.
There was an extremely bizarre stoppage within the final ten minutes as Togo's goal frame was leaning in an unstable manner and needed sorting out after Feghouli had crashed into the net from a previous corner. The lengthy stoppage resulted in the goal being substituted for another and 13-minutes of injury time was to be played. This may have broken Algeria's momentum and Togo finally secured the victory when substitute Dove Wome slotted home after being put through on goal.
Possible Group Outcomes:
- If Ivory Coast and Togo win = Both through with CIV group winners.
- If Ivory Coast and Tunisia win = Both through with CIV group winners.
- If Ivory Coast win and Togo v Tunisia ends in a draw = CIV win group, Togo progress on goal difference
- If both games end in a draw = CIV win group, Togo progress on goal difference.
- If Ivory Coast v Algeria ends in a draw & Togo win = CIV &Togo progress with CIV winning group.
- If Ivory Coast v Algeria ends in a draw & Tunisia win - CIV & Tunisia progress with CIV winning group.
- If Algeria & Togo win = CIV & Togo progress with CIV winning group on head to head.
- If Algeria & Tunisia win = CIV & Tunisia progress with CIV winning group on head to head.
- If Algeria win & Togo v Tunisia ends in a draw = CIV win group, Togo progress on goal difference.
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