Toure injury mars Ivory Coast win

SEKONDI, Ghana -- Didier Drogba opened the scoring as the Ivory Coast made light work of beating Benin 4-1 in their African Nations Cup Group B game in Sekondi.

Yaya Toure, Abdelkader Keita and Aruna Dindane scored the Elephants' other goals before Razack Omotoyossi pulled one back in stoppage time.

The victory maintained Ivory Coast's 100 percent start and they became the first team to qualify for the quarterfinals when Nigeria were held 0-0 by Mali in the later match.

But their delight was tempered by the loss of Arsenal defender Kolo Toure, carried off with a suspected groin problem just before the break.

Skipper Drogba said: "We don't know how bad it is. We're worried, but we're keeping our fingers crossed."

Coach Gerard Gili added: "It has been a very good day for us, apart from Kolo's injury. I'm concerned about him because he has injured his groin. I don't know how long he'll be out. He first has to take some tests."

Benin coach Reinhard Fabisch, who alleged that he was approached to help fix Benin's first match in the competition, dropped midfielder Muri Ogunbiyi for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.

The Ivorians soon took control but Benin hung on grimly for 40 minutes before Chelsea striker Drogba raced between two defenders to guide Yaya Toure's through pass wide of Rachad Chitou.

Four minutes later Kolo Toure neatly moved past two defenders and crossing low to unmarked younger brother Yaya who was practically standing on the deserted goal-line.

After 53 minutes Damien Chrysostome was caught in possession by Drogba, who sent Keita through to fire wide of Chitou.

Dindane made it 4-0 midway through the second half as Drogba flicked a corner back into the goalmouth and the striker headed home.

Drogba, who had a knee operation last month leading to fears he might miss the biennial tournament, came off after 68 minutes to be replaced by Boubacar Sanogo.

Mali's point in a predictably tense tussle with Nigeria takes them to the brink of qualification along with the Ivory Coast, who will be their opponents in the final game of the group.

A point will ensure that Mali go through even if Nigeria defeat Benin in their last game.

The Nigerians had the ball in the net 15 minutes from time but Yakubu was offside and in stoppage time Fredi Kanoute wasted a great opening for Mali when he fired too high. E-mail to a friend

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