Ivory Coast advances

The luck of the draw was due to decide the final quarterfinalist at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Ivory Coast earned its spot from Group D by beating Cameroon 1-0 on Wednesday, but Mali and Guinea drew 1-1 yet again, meaning they cannot be separated in the standings. Instead, the African football confederation was due to put the names of the two teams into balls yesterday afternoon at a hotel in Malabo and an official would pick one of them. Whichever one was chosen would advance. “It’s hard for each team because nobody deserves to be out of the competition,” Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer said. “But now it is a reality we have to face.” There had been a possibility that all four teams would be in the draw, but Ivory Coast managed to hold on for victory in Malabo - the only result in the group that did not finish 1-1. In Mongomo, Guinea took the lead when Kevin Constant converted a 15th-minute penalty. Mali had a chance to equalise two minutes later but captain Seydou Keita missed a penalty at the other end. The equaliser eventually came in the second half through forward Modibo Maiga’s back-post header. But since Mali and Guinea could not be separated on the field, they were to be separated by luck. Max Gradel scored the only goal of the match at Malabo Stadium after collecting a pass from Siaka Tiene that went through the legs of Cameroon forward Edgar Salli. He then ran toward the middle of the field before unleashing a hard shot that flew past a diving Fabrice Ondoa. The result gives the Ivorians first place in the group and a quarterfinal match against Algeria on Sunday in Malabo. In Sunday’s early match at the same venue, the lucky team from yesterday’s draw will face Ghana. Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard, who has worked with several teams around the continent, coached in Algeria a few years ago, so his next opponent is no stranger. “I spent a very, very good time over there, and now I have to make them cry,” Renard said. “It’s just a joke. I have a lot of friends in Algeria.” MALABO-NAMPA/AP