(CNN) -- Didier Drogba was dropped to the bench for the first time in his long international career on Saturday, but his Ivory Coast teammates took up the responsibility to win a place in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-0 win over Tunisia. Togo's later 2-0 win over Algeria ensured the Ivorians went through, and meant the 1990 champions became the first nation to be eliminated. Drogba handed over the captain's armband to Didier Zakora, having failed to impress in his team's opening Group D victory over Togo. The 34-year-old former Chelsea star had complained of a lack of match fitness before the tournament started in South Africa, having not played since the end of the Chinese league season with his club Shanghai Shenhua in early November.
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Ivory Coast captain and talisman Didier Drogba dropped for 3-0 win over Tunisia
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Gervinho and Yaya Toure both score second goal of tournament for 2012 finalists
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Togo's later 2-0 win over Algeria puts Ivorians into the quarterfinals in South Africa
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Defeat means north Africans are the first team to be eliminated from group stage
Togo helped the Ivorians to go through to the knockout phase ahead of the final round of group games by beating Tunisia's north @placeholder rivals Algeria.