Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast made a winning start to the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday evening.
The Elephants showed up with the big guns in Franck Kessie, Ibrahim Sangare, Jeremie Boga, Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso, whereas Guinea banked on star figure Mama Balde.
Fofana lit up the atmosphere four minutes into the contest, as lapses from the Guineans allowed the Saudi-based attacker to cut in to the area and rifle into the top corner.
Balde quickly looked to restore parity through a scooped over-head kick in the penalty area, but he had misjudged the flight of the cross that were delivered left of the area.
Yet another chance fell for Balde at the midway point when he burst through the centre of the defence to go wide of the area, but fired tamely at goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
The Elephants were denied a second goal after the half-hour mark after persistent play led to a cross for the inviting Fofana, who saw his first-time shot crash against the woodwork.
Ivorian manager Jean-Louis Gasset introduced Nottingham Forest defender Serge Aurier ahead of the second period and removed Wilfried Singo.
Guinea remained on the back-foot 12 minutes in the second half and conceded again as Krasso used a high boot to grab possession to volley in the bottom-corner.
The African Wild dogs showed some bite later on as a flying shot from close-range by second half introduction Carlos Mane, but Fofana spilled behind.
Both teams were relatively quiet thereafter though did have a large portion of possession and forward momentum too, though it was the Elephants that ended up on the winning side in the end.
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