71 passes and no defenders as Ivory Coast qualify

The Ivory Coast have qualified for next year's African Nations Cup after playing out a farcical draw in their final qualifying game with Cameroon in Abidjan.

Cameroon had already made the finals as Group D winners and showed little sense of adventure.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute when skipper Stephane Mbia was sent off for a foul on goal-bound striker Gervinho at the edge of the box and the game ended in farcical circumstances with the Ivorians passing the ball around in defence and Cameroon showing no desire to win possession.

For the final three minutes of added-on time the ball only once was passed into the Cameroon's half where it was almost immediately sent back to the Ivorian goalkeeper.

In that time there were at least 71 passes between Ivorian players with Cameroon contesting possession on just one occasion.