African Champions Cote d’Ivoire – who beat Ghana on penalties to win the tournament in 2015 – have been kicked out of the ongoing Cup of Nations after a 1-0 loss to Morocco.

The North Africans won the Group C clash with a Rachid Alioui wonder goal which doomed Cote d’Ivoire to completing the tournament without a win and prematurely ended their title defence.

Morocco, coached by the man who led the Ivorians to glory in the tournament two years ago, Herve Renard, needed just a point to qualify – but the team took the game to a limp Cote d’Ivoire side who looked like they weren’t bothered to turn up.

Alioui scored on the counter in the 64th minute, tightly controlling a defence splitting pass and scoring a screamer from outside the box.

DR Congo beat Togo 3-1 in the other group game to qualify as group winners. The Black Stars, who return to action later today, would face either Morocco or DRC depending on whether we finish first or second in the group.