Zokora's arrival will increase speculation that England international Michael Carrick could be on his way out of White Hart Lane.

BBC: Zokora had an outstanding World Cup for the Ivory Coast

Earlier, Jamie O'Hara and Didier Zokora dragged shots wide for Spurs, while Emile Heskey was denied by Heurelho Gomes and Amr Zaki headed just wide.

BBC: Wigan 1-0 Tottenham

However, Defoe's only contribution of note was a flicked pass to play in Zokora, who wasted the promising position by dragging his shot horribly wide.

BBC: Wigan 1-0 Tottenham

Just before the hour Ramos made his second substitution, bringing on winger Aaron Lennon for Ledley King as Didier Zokora moved to the centre of the defence.

BBC: PSV 0-1 Tottenham (1-1)

English-based Emmanuel Eboue and Didier Zokora worked tirelessly for Ivory Coast but the Africans lacked a finishing touch in the absence of Chelsea pair Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.

BBC: Ivory Coast suffer Japan defeat

Ivory Coast were courageous in defence - Didier Zokora, for example, receiving a kick in his arm after bravely heading a cross that Liedson tried to volley - and showed an organisation and discipline in their play that suggested talk of fractures in their squad are wide of the mark.

BBC: Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal