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Ivory Coast are
champions of Africa for the first time since 1992.
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Ivory
Coast ended years of frustration to claim their second African Nations Cup
crown following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Ghana in the final.
The
Elephants, whose only previous triumph in the competition came back in 1992,
looked set for their third final defeat in nine years when they fell 2-0 behind
in the shootout after the teams played out a drab goalless draw in Bata.
But
Ghana fluffed their lines and Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry would become
the hero in this year's edition when he first saved opposite number Brimah
Razak's penalty before stepping up to score his spot-kick and seal a climactic
9-8 success.
Barry
created some controversy during the shootout after going down twice with what
appeared to be cramp, the second time coming just before he took his decisive
kick.
Whether
or not the Lokeren keeper's actions were genuine, it added tension to an
encounter that had been decidedly lacking excitement in the previous 120
minutes.
The
contest was billed as a 'dream final' between two of the continent's most
prominent teams on the world stage -- yet it proved to be uninspiring for large
spells.
Herve
Renard's men enjoyed a sustained period of pressure in the early going, but
they could have easily been reduced to 10 men on the quarter-hour mark.
Serey
Die's high studs up challenge on Wakaso Mubarak left its mark on the on-loan
Celtic winger but only earned the Ivorian a yellow card.
Ghana
defender Baba Rahman should have been punished for giving away possession to
Gervinho but Max Gradel's strike from the Roma forward's through ball sailed
over.
Steadily,
though, Ghana grew into the contest and Christian Atsu, Everton's on-loan
player from Chelsea, came closest to opening the scoring when his first time,
30-yard blast rattled the post.
The
four-time winners continued to grow in confidence and ended the half on top,
with Andre Ayew striking the outside of the woodwork with his cross-come-shot.
It
was a game of very few clear cut openings, though, and that continued into the
second half.
Ghana
were lucky not to go down to 10 men as a tangle between John Boye and Eric
Bailly ended with the former appearing to headbutt the latter.
Referee
Bakary Gassama opted to take no action and Ivory Coast's sense of aggrievement
would have increased had the Ghanaian defender scored from Afriyie Acquah's
ball into the area.
As
it was, Boye's header narrowly missed the target and that was as close as
either side would come until the dying seconds, when Ivorian full-back Serge
Aurier's low strike was palmed out by Ghana goalkeeper Razak.
The
match predictably went into extra-time, but the pattern of defences remaining
on top continued, with both managers reinforcing their striking options with
penalties looming.
Jorden
Ayew and Frank Acheampong were introduced for Ghana while Salomon Kalou and
Junior Tallo came on for the Ivorians.
It
appeared the writing was on the wall for Ivory Coast in the shootout when
Wilfried Bony and Tallo missed their spot-kicks but Ghana pair Afriyie and
Acheampong did likewise.
Neither
side were willing to give an inch, but the tension was raised when Ivory Coast
shot-stopper Barry -- only playing because of an injury to Sylvain Gbohouo --
went down midway through the shootout with apparent cramp.
But,
at 8-8, he made the decisive save off Ghana keeper Razak and after another
brief stoppage, Barry stepped up and slotted home to seal wild Ivorian
celebrations in Estadio de Bata.
Source: http://www.espnfc.com
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