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Makomborero Mutimukulu in MALABO, Equatorial Guinea
THE Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire raised their tusks to be counted last night with a crucial 1-0 victory over Cameroon while Mali and Guinea will have wait for a drawing of lots to decide who goes through to the Nations Cup quarter-finals.

Mali and Guinea could not be separated and a 1-1 draw means they now have to wait for events in the boardroom to now determine which team goes through to the last eight.

The two West African giants have the same number of points and the same goal difference and goals scored and conceded.

The Confederation of African Football leaders will draw the lots at their hotel at 5pm today.

The Ivorians won the group, after just one win in three matches, and Cameroon go home with two points in the bag.

Yaya Toure had struggled for rhythm at this tourney but in a big game, with big rewards, the Manchester City man is always primed for an impact role and last night Cote d’voire expected no less from their skipper.

At the Estadio de Malabo he obliged but it was Max Gradel’s goal which carried the day.

In FC Schalke midfielder Eric Choupo-Moting, Cameroon have a man who is willing to drive play and in a game his team needed to win to earn a place in the last eight, the 26-year old huffed and puffed in a congested midfield.

Cote d’Ivoire coach Herve Renard chose to congest the midfield with Die Serey taking up a defensive midfield role, just behind Yaya, while Seydou Doumbia, the CSKA Moscow man, played behind Wilfried Bony.

Cameroon coach Volker Finke went with what was effectively a 4-1-4-1 formation with skipper Stephane Mbia tasked with shadowing Yaya, from a defensive midfield role.

Surprisingly Estadio de Malabo wasn’t full to the rafters for Group D’s stand out clash. Bony, the new Manchester City recruit, fluffed his lines on five minutes after finding himself eye-ball-to-eye-ball with Joseph Ebogo, the Cameroonian goalie.

The Indomitable Lions’ response did not come until seven minutes later.

Franck Etoundi’s goal-bound header was deflected for a corner by Eric Bailly who would later limp off with a back injury.

Ousmane Diarrassouba came in for his first Afcon appearance with 27 minutes on the clock.

Gradel then fired the Ivorians into the lead with his second goal of the tournament.

The man, whose strike earned the Elephants a point against Mali, beat Ebogo with a beauty of a shot on 36 minutes.

Barely a minute later Edgar Salli failed to beat an advancing Guelassiognon Gbohouo as Cameroon sought an immediate response. Salli missed a clearer chance on the stroke half time. He didn’t re-emerge for the second half.

Finke then threw in Aboubakar Vincent Aboubakar.

The second half saw Cameroon, pumped up after the introduction of the lively Clinton Njie, probe the Ivoirian defence but the Elephants held firmly to their quarter-final ticket.

In Mongomo Guinea had a solid start, taking a 15th minute lead through a Kevin Constant penalty.

Referee Mohamed Said Kordi rightly pointed to the spot after Salif Coulibaly handled inside the box.

Seydou Keita had a great chance to draw the Eagles level three minutes later after Mali were awarded a penalty of their own. He failed.

The AS Roma midfielder’s left footed strike was too central and too weak to trouble Nabby Yattara. Modibo Maiga drew Mali level two minutes after the restart after heading home an Abdoulaye Diaby cross.