Indomitable Lions knocked out

Max Gradel's superb long-range strike catapulted Cote d'Ivoire into the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup as they defeated Cameroon 1-0 to top Group D on Wednesday.

The match was a straight shoot-out for a place in the Last 8 as all teams in the pool entered the final round of matches with two points, an even goal-difference and the same number of goals scored.

The Ivorians have now set up a quarter-final against Algeria in Malabo on Sunday. The second side to emerge from this pool will be decided with the drawing of lots on Thursday after Mali and Guinea could not be separated for the runner-up spot as they played to a 1-1 draw in Mongomo.

For Cameroon it is more disappointment in tournament football as they drop out at the first hurdle, just as they did at the World Cup in Brazil last year.

Cameroon had thumped Cote d'Ivoire 4-1 in the qualifiers and finished ahead of the west Africans in the preliminary pool, but never found that spark in their performance on Wednesday.

The Indomitable Lions dropped forward Vincent Aboubakar to the bench, while the Ivorians were without their striker Gervinho, who served the second match of a two-game suspension.

Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa had to be sharp to collect when a cross deflected off Wilfried Bony's thigh and towards goal.

The goal arrived 10 minutes before the break as Sieka Tiene played in Gradel and the midfielder blasted the ball home from 25 yards, finding the tightest of gaps between Ondoa and the left-hand post.

It was the second game in a row that Gradel has netted for his side after scoring an equaliser against Mali last time out.

Cameroon had an excellent chance to draw level deep into first-half injury time as Edgar Salli found himself with just the keeper to beat, but blasted the ball over the crossbar from close range.

Bony almost doubled the Ivorian advantage just past the hour-mark when he showed his muscle to create a shooting chance, but his rifled effort was straight at Ondoa.

Aboubakar had a superb chance to equalise when he found acres of space in the penalty box, but his shot was far too tame to trouble Ivorian goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo.