Franck Kessie's second-half penalty was what Ivory Coast needed as they laboured to a 1-0 victory over Niger in an Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group K qualifier at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abijan on Saturday.
After failing to break a resilient Niger following a missed penalty in the first half, the Ivorians needed another opportunity from the spot to win.
They are now joint Group K leaders with Madagascar who beat Ethiopia earlier in the day.
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Ivory Coast dominated the exchanges from the early stages of the contest with AC Milan midfielder Kessie troubling Niger defenders.