Ivory Coast 0 - 0 Burkino Faso: Bamba's Ivorians held to stalemate in opener

Published on Monday 11 January 2010 22:05

AFRICAN Nations Cup favourites Ivory Coast were held to a goalless draw by a stubborn Burkina Faso in their opening Group B match at the Estadio do Cabinda.

Vahid Halilhodzic's team dominated possession but could not find the cutting edge to break down a determined Burkinabe defence despite an impressive frontline of Didier Drogba, Bakari Kone and Gervinho. But neither were the Elephants troubled in defence, where Hibs' Sol Bamba played the full 90 minutes.

The players observed a minute's silence prior to kick-off in memory of the three people killed in Friday's gun attack on the Togo team bus in the Angolan exclave of Cabinda.

When the action got under way,

Yaya Toure had the first real sight of goal in the fifth minute but could not get his shot away following Gervinho's cross from the right.

Kone lashed over the bar moments later as the Ivorians made all the early running.

Kone was played through by a fine reverse ball from Yaya Toure 10 minutes after the interval but lashed wide and passed up an even better opportunity 13 minutes later when he skewed wide from six yards following fine work on the left by Lille striker Gervinho.

The Marseille striker was replaced by Kader Keita moments later. Salomon Kalou and Aruna Dindane were also introduced as Halilhodzic freshened up his attack.

Drogba was cynically brought down by Mohamed Koffi on the edge of the box 17 minutes from time but the free-kick came to nothing. The Chelsea frontman did test Diakite in the 85th minute but the Burkinabe goalkeeper was equal to his snap-shot from a tight angle as the Ivorians' frustration continued.