Match ends, Côte d'Ivoire 1, South Africa 0.
Ivory CoastIvory Coast1South AfricaSouth Africa0
Aston Villa's Jonathan Kodjia scored the only goal of the game as Ivory Coast edged past South Africa in their opening Group D encounter.
Kodjia latched on to Max Gradel's precise pass before sidefooting through the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Nicolas Pepe struck the woodwork in the first half, while Thulani Hlatshwayo headed inches over the bar for South Africa with the score still goalless.
Morocco defeated Namibia 1-0 in Sunday's Group D opener.
- What's on day five of the Cup of Nations?
- Late own goal gifts Morocco victory
- What to look out for at the 2019 tournament
Ivory Coast - who left Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha on the bench in Cairo - enjoyed the better of the openings and would have been disappointed not to go into half-time with a narrow lead.
Forward Pepe, who scored 23 goals in 41 appearances for Ligue 1 runners-up Lille last season, rattled the crossbar with a curling free-kick after being tripped on the edge of the penalty area.
Kodjia should have put the Elephants ahead moments later after latching on to Hlatshwayo's poor clearance, but the 29-year-old fired straight at Williams with the goal gaping.
Hlatshwayo missed Bafana Bafana's best chance, heading Sifiso Hlanti's cross wide of the mark at 0-0, while Williams tipped another goal-bound Pepe free-kick over the bar late on.
Ibrahim Kamara's side take on Morocco in their next Group D game on Friday (18:00 BST), while South Africa face Namibia later that day (21:00 BST).
Analysis
By BBC Africa's Nick Cavell
The big surprise of the first half was that Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha was only on the bench. His guile and tricky runs could have helped the Elephants create more chances than the two they had.
In the end, it was veteran Max Gradel whose experience led to the only goal. Zaha did come on and showed a few moments of trickery but was unable to make a scoring impact.
South Africa managed to put together a few pressing moves on the counter-attack but the movement seemed more lateral than forward.
They tried to take advantage of set pieces when they could but with Serge Aurier marshalling the Ivory Coast defence they held firm.
Line-ups
Ivory Coast
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 16Gbohouo
- 17Aurier
- 6Traoré
- 5KanonBooked at 61mins
- 2CoulibalySubstituted forDoumbiaat 87'minutes
- 20Dié
- 8Kessié
- 19Pepe
- 10SeriBooked at 40minsSubstituted forZahaat 69'minutes
- 15GradelBooked at 57minsSubstituted forCornetat 87'minutes
- 14Kodjia
Substitutes
- 1Tape
- 3Doumbia
- 4Gbamin
- 7Angban
- 9Zaha
- 11Cornet
- 12Bony
- 13Assalé
- 21Comara
- 22Bagayoko
- 23Sangaré
South Africa
Formation 4-4-2
- 22Williams
- 5Mkhize
- 14Hlatshwayo
- 2Mkhwanazi
- 18Hlanti
- 7MaboeSubstituted forVilakaziat 75'minutes
- 15Furman
- 12Mokotjo
- 11Zwane
- 9MothibaBooked at 23minsSubstituted forVeldwijkat 82'minutes
- 19Tau
Substitutes
- 1Keet
- 3Maela
- 4Cardoso
- 6Mphahlele
- 8Zungu
- 10Serero
- 13Mabunda
- 16Bvuma
- 17Vilakazi
- 20Kekana
- 21Veldwijk
- 23Lorch
- Referee:
- Mustapha Ghorbal
- Attendance:
- 4,961
Match Stats
Home TeamIvory CoastAway TeamSouth Africa
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away2
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away0
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home24
- Away21
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Côte d'Ivoire 1, South Africa 0.
Post update
Sfiso Hlanti (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jonathan Kodjia (Côte d'Ivoire).
Post update
Attempt missed. Sibusiso Vilakazi (South Africa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lars Veldwijk with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Post update
Thamsanqa Mkhize (South Africa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Wilfried Zaha (Côte d'Ivoire).
Post update
Foul by Lars Veldwijk (South Africa).
Post update
Ismael Traoré (Côte d'Ivoire) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Serey Dié (Côte d'Ivoire) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonathan Kodjia.
Post update
Corner, Côte d'Ivoire. Conceded by Thulani Hlatshwayo.
Post update
Corner, Côte d'Ivoire. Conceded by Ronwen Williams.
Post update
Attempt saved. Nicolas Pepe (Côte d'Ivoire) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Post update
Foul by Buhle Mkhwanazi (South Africa).
Post update
Nicolas Pepe (Côte d'Ivoire) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Côte d'Ivoire. Maxwel Cornet replaces Max-Alain Gradel because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Côte d'Ivoire. Souleyman Doumbia replaces Wonlo Coulibaly.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Max-Alain Gradel (Côte d'Ivoire).
Post update
Hand ball by Percy Tau (South Africa).
