South Africa | 1 - 1 | Ivory Coast |
|---|---|---|
| Katlego Mphela (53') |  | Siboniso Gaxa (og 35') |
| Date | : | Sat, Nov 12, 2011 |
| Time | : | 14:15 CET |
| Play on | : | International Friendly |
Ivory Coast began their preparations for the 2012 African Nations Cup with a 1-1 away draw against South Africa in a friendly on Saturday.
Africa's top ranked team took on Bafana Bafana, who were playing their first game since miscalculating the Nations Cup rules and missing out on qualification.
Yaya Toure dominated the early exchanges and Arsenal's Gervinho was unlucky not to have been given a penalty, but justice was done in the 36th minute when South African full-back Siboniso Gaxa turned the ball into his own net.
The game ended 1-1 though, as South Africa equalised eight minutes into the second half after a thunderbolt, long range free-kick from striker Katlego Mphela who continued his fine scoring record at international level.
"It was a game of great intensity that gave us a good idea of what we still need to do ahead of the Nations Cup," Ivorian coach Francois Zahoui told reporters as his side next head to Paris for a friendly with Senegal on Tuesday.
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