Nigeria's coach Berti Vogts is optimistic his team will still progress from the group B of the Ghana 2008, despite its 1-nil loss to Cote d'Ivoire in their opening match in Sekondi Monday.

Salomon Kalou's 66th minute strike threw the Nigeria camp into panic, especially as Mali also won its opening match by the same scoreline.

Vogts admitted, in a post-match interview, that the loss was painful, but said the Super Eagles played well.

"It was just unfortunate the back line lost concentration for a moment and that alone separated the two teams. I lost to a good side and perhaps the best in the continent,'' the 61-year-old German said.

He assured: "We are on course to reach the next stage of the competition and since my players have realised the enormous of the work at hand, I am optimistic that the team will sail to the next round."

Also speaking after the match, Ivorian coach Gerard Gili hailed what he called the ''fighting spirit'' of the Nigerian team.

"Although we know Nigeria as a force on the continent, however we were sure to beat your team but they came out fighting especially in the first half, which I think they dominated with some chances at goal.

"They were too much on (Didier) Drogba who was played out of the match, and we knew we have some problems because he is the motivator of the team. But in the second half, we came out with other options which took care of the defence line,'' Gili said.

The Elephants of Cote d' Ivoire will play the Squirrels of Benin on Friday, while Nigeria must beat the Eagles of Mali in its next match, if it is to have any hope of advancing from the group.