Algeria outplayed Cote d'Ivoire, admits Renard

Cote d'Ivoire coach Herve Renard has admitted his side were the poorer team as they beat Algeria 3-1 to progress to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.

Renard's men were buoyed to victory by a Wilfried Bony double, with the Manchester City signing scoring either side of Algeria's El Arbi Hillel Soudani, before Gervinho sealed their progression in Malabo with a goal deep into second-half stoppage time.

Renard conceded their north African opponents were better, but said they failed to capitalise on their chances.

"From a footballing perspective and looking at how they treated the ball, Algeria were better than us," Renard was quoted as saying by L'Equipe.

"We have to be honest with ourselves. You have to find the most effective strategy against a team that is great with the ball on the ground when you're not at your best yourselves.

"We had to make the most of our set pieces. It is not our fault that Algeria were not good enough in this part of the game.

"Algeria played the best football this tournament, but we will not apologise for beating them 3-1."

Algeria boss Christian Gourcuff, meanwhile, echoed Renard's words.

"The best team did not win. I cannot blame the team for anything, apart from the lack of efficiency," Gourcuff lamented.

"The Ivorians did not have many chances. This result is not fair."

Gourcuff also rued the quality of the pitch and said their own fate could have been different had they not conceded late to lose to Ghana and finish second in Group C.

"We did not put enough pace in our passing game and there was also the condition of the pitch... It's cruel but football is a matter of efficiency.

"If we play the game 10 times, we would not lose it 10 times, obviously.

"[One] regret that we should have is the goal we conceded against Ghana. It would have saved us from meeting Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals."