( dpa ) Ivory Coast on Friday closed in on the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup by beating Benin 4-1 in a Group B game played in Sekondi.
Another disappointing crowd of less than 10,000 in the 20,000 seater Essipong Stadium saw Benin's defence stand firm for the opening 40 minutes as the fancied Ivory Coast controlled the game.
The Elephants finally broke down the resistance five minutes from the break as Yaya Toure played through a defence-splitting through ball which came to Chelsea striker Didier Drogba who slipped it under goalkeeper Rachad Chitou.
They added another just three minutes later as Yaya Toure pushed a cross from his brother Kolo Toure over the line.
The Arsenal defender Kolo was substituted shortly afterwards after picking up a groin injury and initial reports suggested that he might be flown to the Ivory Coast capital Abidjan for further tests.
It took the Elephants just seven minutes after the restart to add a third goal as Drogba and Kader Keita put the Benin defender under pressure after a goal-kick and Keita scored.
In the 62nd minute Drogba showed all his skill as he controlled a corner, played the ball to Aruna Dindane and the Lens striker headed home.
In injury time Razak Omotoyossi pulled one back for Benin after a goalmouth scramble during which the Ivory Coast defenders failed to clear the ball.
The result sees Ivory Coast top the group with six points, while Benin have none. The other two teams in the group, Nigeria and Mali, meet later Friday and anything but a Nigeria win would guarantee Ivory Coast a place in the next round.