Togo beat Algeria 2-0 to send the former champions packing from the Africa Cup of Nations while at the same time boosting their own hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
Emmanuel Adebayor of Togo
Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor’s 32 minutes first half goal and Dove Wome’s in stoppage time sealed a memorable win which will have been greeted with jubilation in the Ivory Coast camp as it guaranteed their place in the last eight with a game to spare.
Togo’s victory left the Ivorians, who moved up to six points after their 3-0 win over Tunisia earlier, assured of one of the two tickets from Group D.
Togo and Tunisia will scrap it out for the second berth on Wednesday, leaving pointless Algeria playing only for pride when they face the competition favourites.
The lanky striker ran on to Moustapha Salifou’s header, slamming the ball low past the onrushing ‘keeper Rais Mbolhi to open his 2013 account and put Togo bang in contention for the last eight.
Earlier, Togo ‘keeper Kossi Agassa did well to hold on to Nottingham Forest midfielder Adlene Guedioura’s bullet header off a corner taken by the lively Sofiane Feghouli, who was enjoying teasing Togo’s defence down the right.
And only Agassa’s chest denied Algeria’s Islam Slimani a quick equaliser.
The second half was in its infancy when the north Africans had legitimate grounds for a penalty after Feghouli went down, tackled by Dakonam Djene, but Hamada Nampiandraza dismissed their appeals.
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