Cote d’Ivoire fought back to draw their Africa Cup of Nations opener with Guinea, despite having Gervinho sent off early in the second half.
Guinea took a 36th-minute lead when Mohamed Yattara volleyed in.
Ex-Arsenal striker Gervinho, who had hit the bar in the first half, was dismissed on 58 minutes for a slap.
Ibrahima Traore almost doubled the lead when his shot hit the bar, but Ivory Coast rescued themselves when Seydou Doumbia slotted low into the corner.
That outcome seemed unlikely when Gervinho was given his marching orders – he had been by far the game’s best player, while his team-mates had looked well short of their potential.
Boasting the attacking talents of Wilfred Bony, now one of Africa’s most expensive players since his £28m move to Manchester City, plus new his club-mate Yaya Toure and Gervinho, the Elephants were expected to win comfortably,
But Guinea showed all the character that had got them to the finals – they qualified despite not being able to play matches at home because of the Ebola crisis in their country – to hold their own.
Gervinho suffered his moment of madness, hitting Naby Keita in the face then reacting wildly to the resultant red card, falling to the pitch and slamming his arms on the ground.
In the day’s other game, Ambroise Oyongo scored his first goal for Cameroon to rescue a point against Mali in their opening match.
The right-back charged into the penalty area to collect a pass from Raoul Loe and controlled brilliantly before slotting home from close range.
Sambou Yatabare had put Mali ahead when he drilled home a low shot from inside the six-yard box.
Yatabare thought he had won it in the final minute when he headed home a free-kick but he was flagged offside.
Mali had made the better first-half chances with Wolves midfielder Bakary Sako twice denied by Fabrice Ondoa.
The match was the fifth 1-1 draw in the opening eight group games and left Group D all square after the earlier match between Ivory Coast and Guinea finished with the same score.
