Ivory Coast forward Gervinho has said sorry after his red card for striking Guinea defender Naby Keita in the sides' 1-1 draw on Tuesday.

"I want to apologise to the Ivory Coast nation, my team-mates, the fans and the African Nations Cup organisers for this gesture of anger," he wrote on Twitter. 

"It is not like me and it does not have its place on a football pitch."

A red card carries a mandatory one-match ban but the Confederation of African Football may extend it.

Usually, a dismissal for violent conduct receives at least a two-match ban at the Nations Cup but it can be as high as four if the disciplinary committee feels it deserves a more severe sanction.

Former Arsenal forward Gervinho appeared to slap Keita in the 58th minute of the Group D match in Malabo in a off-the-ball incident,

Ivory Coast were a goal down at the time but fought back to earn a draw despite their numerical disadvantage.

The 27-year-old Gervinho had been his side's best player in the match and he would be a big loss should he be suspended for the Elephants' two remaining group games, against Mali on Saturday and Cameroon on the 28th.