Ivory Coast booked their place in the knockout stages of the fourth Edition of the African Nations Championships after thrashing Gabon 4-1 at Huye Stadium, Huye District in Southern Province yesterday. Hosts Rwanda finished top of Group A with six points despite suffering a demoralizing 4-1 loss to Morocco at Amahoro National Stadium in front of President Paul Kagame and thousands of fans that braved a downpour to cheer on the team. Ivory Coast’s Les Elephant took the lead in the 18th minute through Essis Baudelaire Fulgence Aka, who fired home a strong shot from outside the box that swayed past goalkeeper Yves Stephane Moto. Gabon’s best chance came in the 31st minute when Yann Jose Gnassa Mangonda tested goalie Sangare but saw his shot go few inches over the crossbar. Gabon, who came into the game with one point from their two previous Group A matches, began the second half taking the game to Ivory Coast, and got their reward with an equaliser through Franck Obambou, who headed in from a corner in the 50th minute. However, their celebrations did not last long with Djedje Giuza restoring Les Elephants’ lead in the 65th minute before Koffi Davy Mahinde, who had come on for Yace Marius Gregoire Okpekon, netting twice in a space of seven minutes to seal an emphatic victory. The result means that Ivory Coast joined Rwanda in the quarterfinals of the biennial tournament while Morocco and Gabon crashed out of the tournament. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
