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Malabo. Africa Cup of Nations favorites Ivory Coast won a tense Group B opener against Sudan here on Sunday, Didier Drogba earning the star-studded Elephants a 1-0 win.

For a side ranked 102 rungs below the Ivorians in FIFA’s ranking, Sudan covered themselves with glory, yet Drogba’s decisive intervention leaves them struggling and sets the 1992 champions on course for the quarter-finals.

After a fraught first half in which Sudan more than held their own, Drogba calmed Ivorian nerves six minutes before the break.

The Chelsea striker broke the deadlock against the Nile Crocodiles when he rose to head in a superb cross from his club team-mate Salomon Kalou.

But Ivory Coast almost found themselves back on level terms on the stroke of half-time, with only goalkeeper Boubacar Barry’s brilliant reaction tipping the ball over the crossbar to deny Mudather Elteib’s menacing strike.

Sudan came out for the second half and continued in the same vein, defending stoutly and trying to catch their illustrious opponents out on the counter-attack.

The footballing millionaires went close to doubling their lead just before the hour, only for Sudan keeper Mahjoub El Moez to be up to the task of repelling Gervinho’s low attempt.

The Arsenal forward had the Sudan defence trembling again in the 76th minute when running onto a long lob and charging into the area, only to squander a clear opportunity to put the match to bed.

Ivory Coast skipper Drogba struck a relieved figure afterwards, saying: “I don’t know what’s better than taking the three points. Overall it’s a decent start. We displayed positive things and other things less good, but the most important aspect for us was to get off to a winning start.”

The Ivorians, while relieved to escape with three points, looked far from potential champions and will have to improve markedly if they are to fulfil their massive potential and shed their unwanted reputation as chokers.

That moniker has been attached to them after they lost the 2006 final to hosts Egypt, who stopped them again in the semi-finals in 2008, while in 2010 they were stunned by hosts Angola in the quarter-finals.

Francois Zahoui, the winning coach, said he hadn’t been surprised by the stiff Sudanese resistance.

He added: “I was expecting an ultra-motivated team against us, they produced a very very good game.

“We’ve come here with ambitions for this competition. I’m already satisfied that we didn’t concede a goal. We are always waiting for the Ivory Coast to produce fireworks but our aim is to win the Cup.

“We’ll go step by step, there are areas to improve in terms of the substance but it was a positive beginning. Mentally this win will relieve some of the pressure.”

Sudan’s coach Mohamed Abdalla understandably reckoned his bunch of youngsters had acquitted themselves well.

“When you play a team like the Ivory Coast with numerous stars you can’t make mistakes. But after the goal and in the second half we shed our reserve and produced lots of chances.

“I think overall it’s a positive sign for the next match.”

That is against Angola where Sudan will continue their quest for their first Nations Cup match outside Sudan since 1963.

Next up for Drogba and company are Burkina Faso with both matches scheduled for Malabo on Thursday.

Agence France-Presse