An early goal from Didier Drogba led the Ivory Coast to their second successive win at the African Nations Cup finals yesterday, a 2-1 triumph over Group A opponents Libya.

The World Cup finalists, who beat Morocco 1-0 on Saturday thanks to a Drogba penalty, are through to the quarter-finals while Libya have been effectively eliminated.

Chelsea striker Drogba put the Ivorians one up after a mistake by Libya goalkeeper Muftah Ghzalla.

Ghzalla appeared to have smothered a shot by Arouna Kone but let the ball to slip from his grasp, allowing Kone to set up Drogba for an easy goal from close range.

The Ivorians squandered two good chances to add to their tally when Kone and Drogba went wide with close-range headers.

Libya, hammered 3-0 by hosts Egypt in the opening game of the tournament on Friday, grew in confidence after several swift passing moves and equalised two minutes before half-time through Abdelsalam Khamis. It was Libya's first goal at the finals since their semi-final appearance 24 years ago.

Drogba went close to restoring Ivory Coast's lead when he swivelled to hit a snap shot narrowly wide in the 50th minute.

But the Ivorians clinched victory when Ghzalla flapped at a high ball and Gneri Yaya Toure headed in from under the crossbar.

Other result: Egypt vs Morocco 0-0.

Playing today: (Group B) 4.15 p.m. Angola vs Congo; 7 p.m. Cameroon vs Togo.

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