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Ivory Coast's captain Didier Drogba cheers toward Ivorian fans at the end of Ivory Coast's African Cup of Nations quarter-final match against Equatorial Guinea, at Malabo Stadium in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Ivory Coast defeated E Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press
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An Equatorial Guinea fan walks past a line of police in riot gear as he arrives at Malabo Stadium, where Equatorial Guinea will face Ivory Coast in their African Cup of Nations quarter-final match, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press
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Equatorial Guinea coach Gilson Paulo talks to his players from the sidelines during their African Cup of Nations quarter-final match against Ivory Coast at Malabo Stadium in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Ivory Coast defeated Equatoria Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press
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An Equatorial Guinea fans without a ticket celebrates near Malabo Stadium, where Equatorial Guinea will face Ivory Coast in their African Cup of Nations quarter-final match, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press
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Kids play soccer in a side street as police guard the approach to Malabo Stadium, where Equatorial Guinea will face Ivory Coast in their African Cup of Nations quarter-final match, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press
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Equatorial Guinea fans arrive outside Malabo Stadium, where Equatorial Guinea will face Ivory Coast in their African Cup of Nations quarter-final match, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press
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Equatorial Guinea's Fousseny Kamissoko, right, is comforted by teammate Narcisse Ekanga as he reacts to a play early on in their African Cup of Nations quarter-final match at Malabo Stadium in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Ivory Coast Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press
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Equatorial Guinea fans are held back by police to verify their tickets before allowing them through, outside Malabo Stadium, where Equatorial Guinea will face Ivory Coast in their African Cup of Nations quarter-final match, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, S Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press
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Equatorial Guinea national soccer team coach Gilson Paulo, second right, talks to his players during a training session at La Paz Stadium in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Friday, Feb. 3, 2012. Equatorial Guinea will face Ivory Coast Saturday in Malabo in the Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press
By Associated Press

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea — Equatorial Guinea has finally bowed out of the African Cup of Nations after overcoming a last-minute coaching change and a disrupted buildup to provide some of the tournament's most memorable moments.

Following a stunning qualification to the knockout stage, the tiny co-host came unstuck against cup favorite Ivory Coast as Didier Drogba inspired a 3-0 win in Saturday's quarterfinal.

The loss put an end to the Equatorial Guinea fairy tale, but the dramatic late winning goals to beat Libya and Senegal in the group stage have already entered African Cup folklore.

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Coach Gilson Paulo, who took over just a few weeks before the tournament began, says he intends to stay on and thinks the team "could have done more if we had had more time to prepare."

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