A CONTROVERSIAL firsthalf penalty from Didier Drogba gave Ivory Coast a 1-0 victory over Morocco in their opening match. However, Morocco deserved at least a point after dominating for long periods and creating the majority of the goalscoring opportunities.

In fact, the Chelsea striker's 39th-minute spot-kick was virtually his side's only real chance in a game where, once they were ahead, Ivory Coast were content to defend and hit on the counter-attack.

The penalty was awarded when Drogba was pulled back by Regragui, although first contact was made just outside the area.

Morocco gave an indication of what was to follow when Youssef Chippo headed a fifthminute right-wing corner wide as Morocco began brightly and Ivory Coast continued to look vulnerable in the air at the back as Maroune Chamakh had a great chance to put his side ahead in the 11th minute.

Then Mohammed El Yacoubi swung in a long cross from wide on the left and Chamakh rose between the two centre-halves but planted his header wide of JeanJacques Tizie's left-hand post.

Morocco, runners-up in this competition two years ago, should have gone ahead in the 29th minute when Youssef Hadji dragged a right-footed shot across goal from 10 yards after Houssine Kharja had headed on Yacoubi's cross.

In the 37th minute an offside flag prevented Drogba beating goalkeeper Jarmouni in a one-on-one but the Chelsea striker won a controversial penalty seconds later when Emerse Fae's ball from the right caused Regragui to pull back the Chelsea striker.

Morocco came close to equalising on several occasions after the break, but it was the Drogba's lone strike that got his side off to the perfect start.

Meanwhile in Group B, three goals from Samuel Eto'o gave Cameroon a 3-1 win over Angola. Eto'o struck before a 30th minute Amado Favio penalty for World Cup debutants. But Eto'o's performance guaranteed the points