We beat a good team - Kolo

Cote d’Ivoire defender Kolo Toure has said stopping their archrivals Cameroon in a crucial game of the 2015 Afcon event is a big victory.

Speaking to AfricanFoootball.com at the Mixed Zone after the game, Kolo who also features for Liverpool in the English Premier League said after losing 4-1 to Cameroon in the qualifiers, it’s a good feeling to beat the same team at this stage.

The Elephants stopped Cameroon 1-0 in a crucial Group D match that determined their fate at the Malabo Stadium. Max Gradel scored the lone goal after 35 minutes to send Cote d’Ivoire to the quarter final where they will now face Algeria on February 1st.

Gradel who also scored against Mali in an earlier Group D match beat his marker and shot at goal to beat Cameroon’s goalkeeper Joseph Ondoa Ebogo.

Kolo who took over the captain’s arm-band after his brother Yaya Toure was substituted because of injury said they will celebrate this win for thw whole night because it means a lot to them.

"Not because they are our rivals, but we have beaten a good team,” added the defender.

Speaking about the knock out stage of the tournament, Kolo said they are going back to the drawing board because that is a tricky stage.

"We have to go back and correct all our poor points ahead of the quarter final game because it will not be any easier,” he added.

To reach the knock out stage, The Elephants topped Group D with five points after 1-1 draws against Mali and Guinea before picking maximum points on Wednesday.

CAF will meet on Thursday to decide which second team qualifies from this group after Guinea and Mali drew 1-1 and the two teams are tied in points and goal difference.