Off the wire
• Latvia urges Albania to achieve results in EU-set priorities  • Albania emphasizes urgency on railway link with Macedonia  • Israeli PM's Congress speech departure from protocol: White House  • Algeria urges Yemeni disputing parties to resort to dialogue  • South Sudan's rival factions sign agreement in Tanzania's Arusha  • 10 killed in car accident in Egypt  • Lithuania's security heads address LNG terminal safety issues  • Chinese ambassador pledges closer legislature cooperation with EU  • Finnish wind power production grows by 43 pct in 2014  • 20 rebels get killed in Syria's Aleppo while preparing car bomb: report  
You are here: 　 Home

Toure glad to earn point in Cote d'Ivoire's Afcon opening tie

Xinhua, January 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cote d'Ivoire skipper Yaya Toure said he was happy they earned a draw against Guinea in a Group D game at the on-going 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

The Elephants battled from a goal down and also had a player sent-off early in the second half before they leveled to draw 1-1 at the Malabo Stadium.

"We played against a good Guinea team and got one of our good players sent off. But I am happy we kept our heads up and battled to earn a draw," said the 2014 Africa Football of the Year.

Second half substitute Seydou Doumbia saved the Elephants with a goal in the 72nd minute after Muhammed Yattara had given Guinea a first half lead.

The attacking trio of Yao Gervinho, Salomon Kalou and Wilfried Bony started the game by running rings around the Guinea defenders and forced goalkeeper Naby Yataara to make some crucial saves.

After 57 minutes Ivory Coast were reduced by a player after Gervinho was sent-off. The former player of English Premier League side Arsenal punched a Guinea player in the face.

"It was a good point," said Toure. "We knew that Afcon was not an easy tournament. We have been a bit clumsy in the first half but we had a good reaction.

"We made a mistake for their goal, we lost a good player in Gervinho ... there are still two games to come and we must improve, " added Toure. Endite