After being given a dressing down by their coach Francois Zahoui, the stars of Cote d'Ivoire put together a much more convincing performance in Malabo on Thursday to book their place in the African Nations Cup quarter-finals.

They are the second side through to the last eight, following the shock advance of co-hosts Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday.

Thursday's 2-0 win for the Ivorians over neighbours Burkina Faso pushed them to six points from their opening two games.

With Angola and Sudan drawing 2-2 in their earlier match at Estadio Nueva in the Equatorial Guinea capital, the Ivorians can no longer be caught. Burkina Faso, after two successive defeats, are out.

Zahoui had told his squad of highly-paid, European-based players they would have to check their egos and buckle down to hard work if they were to win the tournament.

His message was that their approach had not been serious enough and their attitude could cost them. It seemed to have been taken to heart.

The Ivorians had looked unconvincing in beating Sudan 1-0 last Sunday but were far better in their approach on Thursday.

They also benefitted from the security of Salomon Kalou scoring after 17 minutes, which put Burkina Faso on the back foot.

Cote d'Ivoire scored again in the 82nd minute, thanks to an own goal from Bakary Kone, who headed the ball over his own goalkeeper and into the back of the net. But by then Burkina Faso were already looking a beaten side and they join Senegal in booking home an early passage.

Their defeat could spell the end of a four-year stint in charge of "Les Etalons" for Paulo Duarte, the Portuguese coach caught in controversy over trying to illegally naturalise players from other countries to strength the Burkinabe team.

He has now failed in two successive Nations Cups to take his team to the last eight.

Burkina Faso end their Nations Cup against Sudan in Malabo on Monday, while the Ivorians fly to Bata to meet Angola to decide who wins the group.