Ivory Coast have beaten Tunisia 2-0 in an international friendly in Abu Dhabi. Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time as both sides used the match to prepare for this month's Africa Cup of Nations. Three minutes after the break, Kalou's club colleague Didier Drogba scored from the penalty spot after Tunisia defender Karim Hagui had handled. After 73 minutes, the Ivorians were reduced to ten men after midfielder Cheick Tiote was sent off. The Newcastle United received a straight red card after a wild challenge on Mejdi Traore. Meanwhile, Issam Jemaa was not part of the action as the Tunisia striker continues to recover from injury. Tunisia - who won the 2004 Nations Cup on home soil - will take on Morocco, Niger and co-hosts Gabon in Group C of the Nations Cup. The Ivorians, who are strongly tipped by some to win their first title since 1992, will contest Group B along with Angola, Burkina Faso and Sudan. Meanwhile in Douala a Cameroon team of locally-based players held the Nations Cup bound Burkina Faso to a 0-0 draw, the hosts missed a first-half penalty The 2012 Nations Cup kicks off in Equatorial Guinea on 21 January, with the final taking place in the Gabonese capital Libreville on 12 February.