Gervinho suspended for two matches for red card after hitting Guinea player

Ivory Coast forward Gervinho was given a two-match suspension on Wednesday, ruling him out of the rest of the group stage at this year's African Nations Cup.

The loss of Gervinho, who had been the team's livliest player against Guinea on Tuesday until he was given a straight red card in the 57th minute, will hurt the Ivory Coast's chances of advancing from a tough Group D.


The African football federation's disciplinary panel decided the sanction on Wednesday in Bata, the site of the final on Feb. 8.

Despite playing with 10 men for much of the second half against Guinea, the Ivorians were able to equalize and earn a 1-1 draw at Malabo Stadium. Cameroon and Mali also drew 1-1, leaving all four teams with one point each after the first set of group matches.

Gervinho, who plays for Roma, was sent off after hitting Guinea midfielder Naby Keita in the face. Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard then made some tactical changes, including bringing on forward Seydou Doumbia.

The changes worked, with Doumbia scoring the equalizer in the 72nd minute, six minutes after coming on.