Didier Drogba and goalscorer Salomon Kalou are on the way back to Chelsea after their Ivory Coast side was eliminated from the African Nations by Algeria on Sunday.

In an entertaining contest that had it all, it was the Algerians that eventually progressed after extra-time, winning 3-2 having come from behind twice to force an added 30 minutes.

Kalou opened the scoring early in Cabinda and Drogba had a penalty shout before Karim Matmour's equaliser before half-time, and then sub Kader Keita looked to have won it, only for Madjid Bougherra to nod home on 89 minutes.

Algeria sub Hameur Bouazza scored the winner just moments into extra-time, but Ivory Coast will point to Kolo Toure's disallowed goal in stoppage time, as well as Drogba's penalty claim.

The Ivoirians got off to the perfect start as Kalou fired home after just four minutes, early goals seeming to characterise this Cup of Nations tournament.

The Chelsea man played a ball inside to Yaya Toure, whose shot ricocheted off defender Madjid Bougherra (a one-time team-mate of Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull at Crewe Alexandra) and back into his path, firing home on his left foot as defenders stood and watched, hoping for an offside flag. It was his first of the tournament.

Drogba should have had a penalty on the quarter-hour. He raced onto Gervinho's through ball but was cut down in the area by Bougherra, who had already been yellow-carded. The defender hadn't played the ball but had clearly caught the forward, yet the referee awarded a goal-kick.

Left-back Siaka Tiene smashed into the side netting after an enterprising run for the Ivoirians, before Algeria began to impose themselves on the game.

Their possession only provided one chance in the first half but Matmour grasped it, cutting inside Cheik Tiote and sending a superb drive in off the post to leave the Elephants' goalkeeper Boubacar Barry well beaten. It was an excellent strike, and well worth a nomination for the goal of the tournament so far.

Kalou forced a corner at the beginning of the second half with his direct running, and was regularly causing the Algerian defenders problems from his left-wing position.

Gervinho picked out the 24-year-old on 55 minutes, but his header was blocked before it could threaten the Algerian goal, and then he bent a shot just wide from the edge of the box.

At the other end Algeria were a threat, Matmour making himself a nuisance with his trickery, while Yazid Mansouri shot high from 25 yards.

Drogba was not having much of an influence on the game, the 31-year-old appearing to carry a knock. Kalou sent over a pinpoint cross to the far post, but Drogba, who already has 14 Premier League goals this season, failed to connect properly with his attempted volley.

Algeria should have taken the lead on 67 minutes when Matmour battled past the Ivorian defence to face Barry one-on-one, but the goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant sprawling save, low to his left to maintain parity.

Extra-time was looking increasingly likely as the game entered its final 15 minutes, the Algerians in the ascendancy but creating no clear openings.

Yaya Toure blazed just wide before Vahid Halilhodzic, the Ivory Coast coach, opted to bring off Kalou, his team's best player on the night, replacing him with Kader Keita on 82 minutes.

The sub's impact was immediate and outstanding, dancing round a number of challenges, some more legal than others, before releasing Gervinho with a defence-splitting pass, yet the youngster lost his nerve at the crucial time, and shot well over the crossbar from 12 yards.

It looked like it wouldn't matter. As the clock ticked over to 89 minutes, Keita cut inside two challenges and unleashed a simply unstoppable 30-yard drive, in off the crossbar, eclipsing Matmour's earlier effort and sending his country towards the last four.

Algeria's Bougherra hadn't read the script though.

Shoved up front for the final moments he found himself unmarked at the far post on 91 minutes, and when Portsmouth wide man Nadir Belhadj picked him out he made no mistake, heading low beyond Barry into the keeper's left-hand corner. Extra-time it would be.

After their late comeback it was the Algerians who looked the fresher heading into the extra half-hour, and duly took the lead when sub Hameur Bouazza (once of Fulham and now of Blackpool), just on, found space at the back post to nod home Karim Ziani's deep cross.

In reply, Drogba struck a free-kick straight at Fawzi Chaouchi and then saw the keeper make a superb stop from his powerful drive.

Chaouchi may have injured himself in the process of making the second save, and required prolonged attention from his side's medical staff.

Algeria had chances to send the result beyond doubt but a combination of Bouazza, Matmour, Hassan Yebda and Abdelkader Ghezzal somehow failed to find the net with Ivory Coast on their knees.

Drogba had one more half-chance, a high ball lifted into the area and falling at his feet, but the sheer numbers inside the area blocked his route to goal. Chaouchi was really struggling though, with more treatment needed, and no more Algerian subs available.

Four minutes of stoppage time were signalled, and Kolo Toure, the Manchester City defender, had the ball in the net for Ivory Coast, but his strike was chalked out for offside. It looked like it should have stood.

That was the last chance, with Algeria eating up the last couple of minutes with a combination of keep-ball and gamesmanship, meaning Drogba and Kalou will be back at the Bridge earlier than expected. It leaves John Mikel Obi as the only Chelsea man left in the tournament.