Egypt will defend its African Cup of Nations title in the championship game after routing Ivory Coast 4-1 in Kumasi tonight.

Two goals from in-form striker Amr Zaki sealed victory for Egypt after with Abdulkader Keita's goal in between offering a glimmer of hope to the Elephants. 

Zaki's first goal appeared to close the door on Ivory Coast in the 62nd minute before Keita struck back almost immediately.

But within five minutes Zaki produced a sweet strike of his own to restore Egypt's two-goal cushion.

Mohamed Aboutreika iced the win with a goal in stoppage time, while it was Ahmed Fathi who opened the scoring for Egypt and gave it a 1-0 half time lead.

Ivory Coast endured a miserable night with goalkeeper Boubacar Barry leaving the game injured and Kolo Toure, rushed back from injury, well off his game.

After disrupting what had been a flawless centre-back paring of Didier Zokora and Marc Zoro, it was the latter who made way for Toure.

Ivory Coast now go to the game most of the experts predicted would be the final, but is instead a third-place playoff with Ghana in Kumasi on Saturday.

Egypt now defends its crown against Cameroon in Accra on Sunday.  

Senegal coach Henri Kasperczak resigned and decided against taking up the impossible challenge his team faces in its final group game against South Africa.

According to the BBC Kasperczak's immediate resignation has thrown assistant coach Lamine Ndiaye into the hot-seat for the Teranga Lions' final game.

Kasperczak told the BBC he accepted responsibility for Senegal's poor showing but some players still believed his resignation was unexpected. 

But Senegal's flimsy defence could not hold its 1-0 lead against Angola yesterday with the 3-1 loss leaving it needing to win big against South Africa while receiving a favourable result in the Tunisia-Angola game.

In contrast, Ivorian defender Kolo Toure is in a battle to remain a part of the tournament after being assessed as having a grade-one groin strain.

While Toure's brief assessment of the injury after leaving the Ivory Coast-Benin match was that he would return after missing one match, it appears he will now be out for the quarter finals as well.

Arsenal's medical staff have been heavily involved in the process of rehabilitating Toure, insisting he fly from Ghana to Paris for their own assessment of his injury.

In disciplinary matters Egypt's Mohamed Aboutrika has been warned for displaying a political message on his undershirt during a goal celebration against Sudan on Saturday.

Aboutrika's shirt read "sympathize with gaza" in both English and Arabic.

Aside from the yellow card issued to Aboutrika during the game for the indisgression, no further action other than a warning has been taken by the Confederation of African Football.  

Salomon Kalou has stated his determination to play in Ivory Coast's match against Mali regardless of if the game is a dead rubber.

Kalou said the Elephants were unhappy with conceding a last-minute goal to Benin despite recording a 4-1 victory.

 "We want to go through the competition with a clean sheet," Kalou said.

"Conceding a goal in the last minute is always a bad feeling.

"What has been important is our strong team mentality and I feel we are working together to win games."

Kalou said it was up to coach Gerard Gili to decide if the Elephants' strongest team would play against Mali.

"I want to play," he said.

"I have come here to play every game."

Kolo Toure was assisted out of the ground with a pronounced limp and did not stop to speak to the assembled media.

Toure was stretchered off with a groin injury in first half stoppage time.

His only words offered were "next match" as he moved past, a promising sign for both Ivory Coast and relief for Arsenal supporters.

"I've spoken to him but I can't tell you anything about the injury," Kalou said.

"I hope that he will be ready for the second round."

Ivory Coast moved a step closer to the knock-out stages of the African Cup of Nations in Sekondi tonight with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Benin.

But the win may have come at a cost to the Elephants who lost centre back Kolo Toure on the stroke of half time to a groin injury.

After a tight opening half hour it was Benin's bravery to continue attempting the offside trap which cost it the opening goal.

Didier Drogba was threaded through by Yaya Toure in the 41st minute and finished cooly to open the scoring.

The Elephants made the most of the momentum and doubled their advantage before the long break, Yaya Toure tapping in to score after Arouna Dindane beat two defenders on the left byline and put a ball across the goalmouth.

Despite Kolo Toure's absence in the second half there was no threat of a Benin comeback, with man-of-the-match Dindane continuing to torment the Squirrels backline.

In the 53rd minute a poor goal kick from Benin goalkeeper Rachad Chitou fell straight to Abdul Kader Keita who had a simple run into the penalty area  and finish for 3-0.

Drogba then set up Dindane for the goal of the night as he controlled an overhit corner at the far post and crossed back into the six-yard box for Dindane to head home.

Benin captain Oumar Tchomogo was denied a goal with 10 minutes remaining by a fantastic flying save from Boubacar Barry.

But Tchomogo did put his name on the scoresheet in the first minute of stoppage time as ge headed in a cross from Stephane Sessegnon to give the Squirrels a belated consolation.

Teo Pellizzeri, Tarakodi-Sekondi Stadium