Ivory Coast’s Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso scored in each half as the hosts completed a 2-0 Group A victory over Guinea-Bissau in the Africa Cup of Nations opening game played in energy-sapping humidity on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Nigeria clashes with Equatorial Guinea on Sunday at 3pm in their group opening match.
Venue will be Alassane Ouattara Stadium, commonly known as the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé.
Fofana gave his side a fourth minute lead with a superb shot from the edge of the box before Krasso made up for an earlier miss when he acrobatically netted a second just before the hour.
The Ivorians were always favourites against a Guinea-Bissau team who have now not won any of their 10 Cup of Nations final matches.
However, Â but the hosts, with several players missing through injury, will be pleased to have started their campaign on a positive note in front of an expectant 60,000 crowd.
Twice winners Ivory Coast next play on Thursday when they face Nigeria in the biggest match-up in the group, while Guinea-Bissau take on Equatorial Guinea on the same day. The games will again be played at Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
