A contentious refereeing decision eliminated Cote d'Ivoire from the World Cup on Tuesday, extending a ­calamitous record at tournaments for a golden generation of players who must now feel permanently jinxed.

The Africans were just minutes from achieving their aim of going through to the second round when a controversial call gave opponents Greece a stoppage-time penalty which Giorgos Samaras converted to put the European side through with a 2-1 win.

Cote d'Ivoire needed only a draw in Fortaleza to advance for the first time in their third successive World Cup appearance and at long last confirm the potential of their star-studded soccer team.

But instead they head home crest-fallen once again.

Not only did the tournament in Brazil offer the chance for the Ivorians to write history, it also offered redemption after several disappointing tournaments.

Since 2006, they have been the overwhelming favorites at successive African Nations Cup finals but never been able to lift the title.

They lost on penalties in the 2006 and 2012 finals and were dumped out in the knockout round in 2008, 2010 and last year.

It has earned the Ivorians the moniker of "chokers" across the continent for their perceived propensity to fail within sight of victory.

But there was little sign of timidness in their performance on Tuesday as they came from behind to level with just over a quarter-hour to go and looked to be on their way to a piece of history before calamity struck.

The draw for the 2014 World Cup had contrasted with tough pairings at their maiden World Cup in 2006 and again in the South Africa World Cup four years ago.