Ivory Coast demonstrated that they are the team to beat in the African Cup of Nations after humiliating Guinea 5-0 on Sunday to book their place in the semi-finals. A brace from Salomon Kalou in addition to goals from Didier Drogba, Abdulkader Keita and Bakary Kone dashed Guinea hopes of securing a stunning last-four berth. Ivory Coast will face the winners of Egypt's quarter-final clash against Angola on Monday. Guinea, without their influential skipper Pascal Feindouno, struggled to impose any threat in the first-half. Their efforts were restricted to a tamed shot by Mamadou Bah in the 23rd minute, which was easily collected by Boubacar Barry. Keita broke Guinea resistance two minutes later when he robbed a defender and burst into the area before firing a thunderous low shot that deceived Kemoko Camara. The Guinea keeper was preparing to handle a cross as his naïve move allowed Keita's effort to hit the back of the net. Aruna Dindane should have extended the advantage two minutes before the break when he was picked out by Arthur Boka's superb curling cross.
The Lens striker controlled the ball on the penalty spot but Camara rushed out to block his effort. The impressive Drogba smashed a powerful bullet from inside the area just before the break but Camara finger-tipped it over the bar. After Dindane astonishingly missed an open net after rounding the keeper eight minutes past the hour mark, Ivory Coast ran riot to widen Guinea misery. Drogba doubled the lead in the 70th minute when he latched onto a deft pass, easily scrapped through his marker and slotted into the far bottom corner of the net. Kalou added the third three minutes later as he rounded the keeper before walking goalwards until the ball crossed the line. The Chelsea forward heaped more misery on Guinea in the 81st minute when he tapped in into an empty after being fed by Yaya Toure. Guinea defense was completely outplayed by the unmerciful Elephants. Substitute Kone completed the rout four minutes from time after smashing an unstoppable bullet into the top corner of the net.
