Seydou Doumbia provided relief for 10-man Ivory Coast as he scored a superb equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Guinea in Group D at the African Nations Cup finals on Tuesday.

The CSKA Moscow forward combined with Wilfried Bony to score for Herve Renard's side after Guinea had taken a first half lead through Mohamed Yattara.

The Ivorian cause was not helped by a red card for forward Gervinho just before the hour-mark, and in the end they may well be pleased with a point in what is a difficult pool that also contains heavyweights Cameroon and Mali.

Renard opted to include youngsters Serge Kanon and Eric Bailly in his defence, but otherwise lined up with his expected side that included African Football of the Year Yaya Toure.

The Ivorians made the brighter start and were almost in front on 17 minutes when Gervinho lashed a shot against the crossbar.

The Roma forward was proving a real livewire and twice came close again to opening the score before it was Guinea who grabbed the lead against the run of play.

Ibrahima Traoré provided a deep cross and when the ball fell to Yattara, he volleyed the ball into the roof of the net.

That was the way it stayed until the break, after which Bony showed his class with excellent control and shot that fizzed just over the crossbar.

The Ivorians were beginning to get frustrated at their lack of penetration despite dominating the possession, and that boiled over on 58 minutes when Gervinho struck out at an opponent and rightfully received his marching orders.

Renard will be fuming at the petulance of the experienced forward, and as Ivory Cast recovered from the shock of being a man down, they almost fell further behind when Traoré thundered his shot against the crossbar.

The introduction of Doumbia off the bench provided the Ivorians with more spark and he found the equaliser after playing a superb one-two with Bony to create the space for the shot, which he buried with aplomb.

The Ivorians held out to the end and given the circumstances may well be pleased with a point.

Next up for Ivory Coast is a meeting with Mali on Saturday, while Guinea can look forward to a battle with Cameroon.