Cote d’Ivoire’s pivotal player Salomon Kalou has said facing arch-rivals Cameroon in a Group D game of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is a final coming before the final.

The two sides clash at the Malabo Stadium in a game either team would want to win to qualify for the quarter finals of the event. Speaking to AfricanFootball.com, Kalou who plies his trade for Hertha Berlin in the Germany Bundelsiga said the match is going to be very difficult.

“Cameroon are natural rivals for Cote d’Ivoire. It is clear that it is going to be a difficult game. Even if we drew with them in Abidjan during the qualifiers, this is going to be a final before the final,” he said.

In the qualifiers Cameroon beat Cote d’Ivoire 4-1 at home before drawing in Abidjan. But the stakes are much higher now and there is not room for error for either team. But Kalou thinks that although they will miss the suspended Yao Gervinho who is instrumental to the team, they still have to play as a unit.

“Gervinho is an asset for the team. He is a player who can bring many things and allows us to play in 4-4-2 which gives us many possibilities. We are missing him but we need now to base ourselves on the collective because our team has too often counted on individuals which never helped us,” he added.

Any of the teams Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Guinea and Mali has equal chances of qualify for the last eight as all their games have ended in 1-all draws ahead of today’s encounters. Mali will battle Guinea in the other Group D game to take place at the Mongomo Stadium.