Cote d’Ivoire are AFCON champions!

Cote d’Ivoire have won the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after beating Ghana through penalty shoot-out.

After 120 minutes of pulsating football action at the Estadio de Bata, the Elephants eventually triumph 9-8 on penalties.

Cote d’Ivoire have now won only their second title after they last won it in 1992 beating the same Ghana on penalties.

Cote d’Ivoire produced the first real effort of the match as Yaya Toure’s free-kick was saved by Braimah in the 13th minutes.

The Elephants came close yet again after Gervinho found Max Gradel with a pass but the midfielder shot wide in the box.

Ghana soaked up the pressure as the men in orange dominated the early exchanges. But the Black Stars almost took the lead in the 25th minute as Christian Atsu’s effort from distance could only hit the upright of the post.

The second half continued in the same pattern with the Elephants dominating possession and Ghana restricted to long range efforts at goal.

No meaningful chance was created in the half as the game dragged on to extra time.

The two sides couldn’t be separated in the 30 minutes of extra time and spot-kicks were therefore required in Estadio de Bata.

Ghana went 2-0 ahead, only to surrender that advantage and allow the Elephants to make it 3-3 and enforce sudden death.

After converting subsequent efforts from 12 yards, the Elephants’ goalkeeper Boubacar Barry beat opposite number Razak Braimah to make the score line 9-8 and win the game for his side.

Line-ups

Ghana: Brimah, Afful, Boye, Mensah, Baba, Atsu, Acquah, Mubarak, A. Ayew, Gyan, Appiah

Cote d’Ivoire: Barry, Aurier, Bailly, K. Toure, Kanon, Gradel, Serey Die, Yaya Toure, Tiene, Bony, Gervinho