It took a while to get going but in the end African Nations Cup favourites Cote d'Ivoire got themselves off to a winning start albeit without much conviction on the second day of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
Talismanic captain Didier Drogba again delivered the decisive blow for his country with the only goal of the opening Group B match against Sudan in Malabo on Sunday.
It was a goal typical of the powerful, bustling style of the Chelsea forward, who came crashing in at the back post to score in the 38th minute, surprising the Sudan defence by getting firmly onto the end of a cross from Salomon Kalou.
Drogba's role in the team is under heavy scrutiny, with reports on Sunday in the French newspaper L'Equipe of a team riddled with petty jealousy and super start egos.
Wasted chances, notably by Arsenal's Gervinho, kept the Ivorians in uncertainty until the end but that was as much about Sudan's ability to compete as it was about profligacy of the Elephants.
Sudan proved to be a much stronger competitor than expected, although this defeat continues their winless streak at the finals stretching back 42 years to when they won the Nations Cup on home soil in 1970.
They came close to equalising not long after Drogba's goal when first Mohamed Bashir Ahmed missed from close range at the end of a swift passing move.
A minute later a swerving left-footed shot from Mudather Tayeb cannoned onto the cross with a small touch from the diving Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry.
There was a defiant air about Sudan's play and they displayed enough to suggest they could yet reach the quarter-finals - although they need to beat both Angola and Burkina Faso in their next two games to have any chance.
Both sides had their chances in the game but were stronger in the build-up than in the finishing.
The Ivorians ultimately were just too powerful in key positions, although any chance of a runaway victory evaporated fairly quickly after the kick off.
The Elephants' start contrasted, though, with that of fellow favourites Senegal, who lost 2-1 on the opening day to Zambia. It is now a distinct possibility that Senegal and the Ivorians will meet in the quarter-finals.
