Cote D�Ivoire defeated Burkina Faso 2-0 to qualify for the quarter finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Malabo on Thursday.
Salomon Kalou scored the first goal for the Elephants with a left-footed shot after a cross from Didier Drogba that was tipped forward by Yaya Toure on 16 minutes.
The unlucky Stallions were undone by a late own goal from defender Bakary Kone.
The Stallions had seen a cry for a penalty waved away by the referee on six minutes when Jonathan Pitroipa looked to fall in the box.
Even though the Ivoirians had their big name players on the field, the Burkinabes held their own and almost equalised on 22mins when Alain Traore saw his low shot, after a quick exchange with Moumouni Dagano, saved by Boubacar Barry.
At this point it was all about the Stallions in charge as Siaka Tiene was booked for a lunging tackle.
The resultant free kick was, however, blown wide by playmaker Traore.
Midfielder Charles Kabore was then booked for tripping a surging Didier Drogba run moments before the Chelsea man saw his shot from about 20 yards spilled by Diakite.
A rebounding run by Gervinho was adjudged offside as Diakite raced to clear his line.
The second half resumed with more urgency on the part of the Burkinabe with Traore troubling Barry with two quick efforts, one a left-footed curling shot from outside of the box and the other off a Pitroipa run that Barry saved.
The Ivoirians found space on the right wing through a Jean-Jacques Gosso run that set up Gervinho but the Arsenal man sent his shot up into the night air. Two minutes later, Gervinho forced a save from Diakite after a speedy counter-attacking run from Kalou freed him.
Kalou later hobbled off the field after straining his hamstring and was replaced by Max Gradel on 64mins.
Dagano had an opportunity to draw the Stallions level but his header came off the cross bar to give the Ivoirians some respite.
Midfielder Yaya Toure was substituted as he looked to have cupped an injury on 81mins.
All the hard work of the Burkinabes was unfortunately undone as the match ran into the final minutes when defender Kone attempted a clearance but his resultant header flew above Diakite into the net.
The Elephants thus go into their last game against Angola having qualified for the knock out stages and will be looking to maintain top position in the group while the Stallions have nothing except pride to play for in their final match against Sudan.
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