COTE d’Ivoire maintained a timely return to form by defeating holders Egypt 2-0 at the weekend in a warm-up match for the African Nations Cup finals this month.
Charles Dago put the Elephants ahead after only two minutes at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan and Bonaventure Kalou added a second nine minutes before the final whistle.
Burkina Faso and Gabon drew 1-1 in another match between qualifiers for the 16-nation African football showpiece that kicks off in Ghana on January 22 and ends on February 13 in Nigeria.
Ousmane Sanou struck after 29 minutes in Ouagadougou for the Burkinabe, who hosted the previous edition of the biennial tournament, and Gabon levelled in the 76th minute through Tristan Mombo.