Malabo - Didier Drogba scored from a first-half header as pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast opened their African Cup of Nations campaign with a 1-0 win against Sudan on Sunday.
Drogba's header thumped into the back of the net from Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou's cross in the 39th minute to cap a period of constant pressure.
Arsenal striker Gervinho had several chances to extend the lead but his finishing let him down, forcing Ivory Coast to endure a nervous finale.
Ranked more than 100 places below Ivory Coast, Sudan went closest when Mudathir El-Taieb's shot rattled the crossbar just before half-time.
Later, Angola play Burkina Faso in the other Group B match at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo.
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