A determined Guinea side was held to a 1-1 draw by pre-tournament favourites Cote D’Ivoire in Malabo in the opening Group D match of the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

Guinea would rue their inability to finish off a relatively below-par Cite D’Ivoire side having began the match brighter and earned two cornerkicks in as many minutes early on, but failing to find a breakthrough.

The first real chance of the match however fell to Cote D’Ivoire in the 18th minute, with Gervinho’s snapshot pushed on to the crossbar after Wilfried Bony’s initial effort came back to the Roma forward.

Gervinho squandered another chance on goal in the 34th minute and was made to rue the missed opportunity just two minutes later as Mohamed Yattara gave the Guineans a shock lead with a fierce effort after poor defending from Cote D’Ivoire defender Serge Aurier.

Cote D’Ivoire raced off the block in the scond half, with new Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony forcing a good save two minutes in while Gervinho continued to trouble the Guinea defence.

But the afternoon went from edgy to dire for the Ivorians as Gervinho received a straight red card just before the hour mark for lashing out at Mali veteran Seydou Keita.

However substitute Seydou Doumbia rescued a point for the Ivorians 15 minutes to the end, with the CSKA Moscow striker converting off a Wilfried Bony pass minutes after coming on for Salomon Kalou.

The result is the fourth 1-1 draw recorded in eight matches played so far at the ongoing AFCON 2015, with Cameroun or Mali now in with the chance of taking control of the group when both nations meet later on Tuesday in Malabo.