By Dave Lee
**Tournament favourites Ivory Coast were left ruing missed opportunities as they were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by Burkina Faso in Group B in Cabinda.**Bakari Kone missed several chances as the Ivorians, who had an early penalty appeal turned down, dominated the Africa Cup of Nations game throughout.
The best chance came in the 68th minute when Kone dragged an easy chance wide.
It means the Ivory Coast may now need a win against Ghana if they are to progress past the group stages.
Burkina Faso defended deeply for much of the game, only venturing forward on the counter-attack, and failed to register a shot on goal in the first half.
Their only chance in the first period arose from a committed run and cross from Jonathan Pitroipa - but the ball was scrambled out of harm’s way by the Ivorian defence.
Ivory Coast peppered the Burkina Faso goal in the closing stages, but failed to make their superiority count.
BBC African Footballer of the Year Didier Drogba set up the Elephants’ best chance of the first half, deftly playing through Bakari Kone who directed his shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Earlier, Bakari Kone had headed a decent chance wide after a whipped cross from the impressive Gervinho after 16 minutes.
The Ivorians will have felt hard done by in the 20th minute when the referee denied Drogba a penalty when he was tripped in the penalty area by Mamadou Tall.
The second half heralded more of the same, with the Elephants heavily dictating the pace in the early stages.
In the 55th minute, a long-range Bakari Kone shot whistled past the upright.
As the game passed the hour mark, Burkina Faso began to go forward, but although Pitroipa looked lively they never looking like outwitting the Ivory Coast defence.
A fierce long-range free kick from Moumouni Dagano in the 67th minute did trouble Boubacar Barry in the Ivorian goal, but he managed to dive low to his left to save.
Galatasaray’s Abdulkader Keita nearly struck for Ivory Coast in the 77th minute when his cross drifted towards goal - only to be tipped over by a Burkinabe goalkeeper Daouda Diakite.
A hatful of scrappy but unconvincing chances were seen off as Burkina Faso registered a shock draw.
The departure and subsequent disqualification of Togo means Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Ghana will only play two games each in Group B.