You know the world has changed immensely when a match between two African teams is described as having a "European" style of play, and that is not meant in a good way.

That was how one fan spoke about the start to the most anticipated group of this Nations Cup as the Ivory Coast and Togo were involved in a tense see-saw encounter which lacked a certain oomph. The amount of skill across both teams is well known but it was not executed with any real excitement.

Ivory Coast were guilty of being ultra-cautious while Togo did not take all the chances they should have. Still, the match ended the way only one other at this tournament has so far: with a winner. The favourites, as Ivory Coast have been called, registered their first victory in their quest for the trophy but they do not yet look like a team of continental champions.

- Ivory Coast 2-1 Togo

Their reputation preceded them but the Ivorian heavyweights did not live up to it. Didier Drogba's free-kicks either went wayward or into the wall and there was none of the moves he showed off Stamford Bridge season after season - aided by Togo's effective tactics in negating him. The Ivorian defence appeared porous and slow and their win was far from convincing.

But there was one player who stood out for them. Gervinho was determined in his runs, creative with his passes and scored the winner with an immaculate finish. The rest need to rise to his level as the competition goes on.

As early as the first minute, the lethargy was evident. Kolo Toure back-passed the ball with little intent, Emmanuel Adebayor found it in his path but instead of hammering home the opening goal, he tried to round the keeper who was too smart. Toure's defending was questionable but Adebayor's inability to get off a proper shot was worse.

Gervinho promised to shake the sleepiness of the match when he raced down the right flank and created the perfect chance for 2012 African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Toure, to score. Despite taking the lead, Ivory Coast conceded most of the first half possession and allowed Togo to impose themselves on the game.

Serge Gakpe sent a shot just past the post and then tried a long range effort when Emmanuel Eboue let Adebayor take the ball away from him. While Togo and Vincent Bossou in particular marked Drogba well and made him all but ineffective, Eboue was unable to come to grips with his task of doing the same to Adebayor. He let him loose far enough for the Spurs man to speed up towards goal on the quarter hour mark.

Togo exerted pressure throughout the period and Ivory Coast only stirred once more. Gervinho again created an opportunity but Yaya Toure's effort hit the crossbar. Just as the Ivory Coast thought they had exerted some authority on the match, Togo found an equalizer when Jonathan Ayite swept the ball into goal from a low corner.

That should have been the wake-up call Ivory Coast needed. Having not conceded a goal for the entire duration of the 2012 event (which they did not win despite that impressive record), Boubacar Barry was breached. Being in the group of death was not going to be easy and that was the message with which Togo sent Ivory Coast into half-time.

They showed more intent immediately afterwards and forced deep defence out of Togo. For about 15 minutes, Togo were shut out of the game and Gervinho was about to make them pay. Again, he fed Yaya Toure the ball and again there was a miss. Toure had acres of room but shot straight into the goalkeeper's arms.

Togo looked content to play for the draw and they shut up shop, but then Gervinho burst through and looted it. Yaya Toure delivered the free-kick and the Arsenal man finished it off. Ivory Coast's celebrations were almost short-lived as Togo missed a chance in the final minute of injury time when Adebayor sent the ball into the box and Dakonam Djene's desperate header was turned away by Barry in goal.

The goalkeeping, as it has been throughout this first round, remained of the highest standard but it’s not that aspect of the game that is making fans concerned. More intent is needed, especially intent to score more.

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