Tournament favourites Ivory Coast have set their sights on defeating Ghana after they failed to justify their overwhelming status as top dogs in the Nations Cup against Burkina Faso.
While the Ivorians created opportunities in the game, they were also frustrated by a resolute Burkinabe team who reduced the Elephants to mostly long range efforts.
And now with their next game due on Friday, the Ivory Coast know anything less than three points over the Black Stars will lead to an early flight back home.
It is something that the always confident Elephants insist won't happen.
"We are really confident and we know that against Ghana will be a really tough game but we will qualify and we will have to work really hard," Yaya Toure said.
"They (Ghana) are really good and one of the best on the continent. We need to show character now and I'm really confident and we are ready to fight.�
Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic admitted his team faces a tough task to reach the quarterfinals. "We are now in a very difficult situation.
"But we still have all the cards in our hands and I know we can go through."
Ghana and Ivory Coast have had a lively rivalry at international level after the Ivorians beat Ghana in back-to-back games at the Nations Cup in 1992 and 1994. Ghana then won at the 1996 tournament but the Ivorians stunned then co-host Ghana in front of their home fans in 2000.
Ghana won the last meeting between the two sides 4-2 in the third placed Play-off at the 2008 Nations Cup.
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