AFCON: Final heartache for Elephants
13/02/2012
There was despair for the Côte d'Ivoire on Sunday night, as the pre-tournament favourites lost in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations to Zambia in a sudden-death penalty shootout.
The Elephants, with Paris Saint-Germain full-back Siaka Tiéné in their starting line-up alongside a whole host of former Ligue 1 stars, came into the game as favourites to win the continental title for the first time since 1992. However, just like in their 2006 final defeat to Egypt, the Ivorians' dreams were crushed from the penalty spot in Libreville, Zambia winning 8-7 in the shootout after a 0-0 draw.
Didier Drogba blazed a penalty over 20 minutes from the end of normal time, and after a goalless 90 minutes neither side was able to find a way through in extra-time. The Côte d'Ivoire had not conceded a single goal in the entire tournament, but Zambia were the choice of most neutrals for two reasons.
On the one hand, they had been one of the most attractive sides to watch over the three weeks of competition in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. On the other hand, the Zambians - coached by Frenchman Hervé Renard - were desperate to win their first-ever AFCON in Libreville, the scene of the air disaster that wiped out almost their entire squad in 1993.
Zambia's surviving players went on to reach the final of the 1994 tournament before losing to Nigeria. This time they went one better, prevailing in the shootout at the Stade de l'Amitié. The first 14 kicks were all scored, before Kolo Touré, Rainford Kalaba and Gervinho all missed. But defender Stoppila Sunzu held his nerve to score the winner, sparking emotional scenes of joy for the Zambians and despair for the Elephants.
As well as Tiéné, Max Alain Gradel of Saint-Etienne came on as a second-half substitute for the Elephants, while Kafoumba Coulibaly of Nice was an unused substitute. Goalkeeper Daniel Yeboah - recently signed by Dijon - and Valenciennes defender Benjamin Angoua are the other members of the Côte d'Ivoire squad who must now put this heartache behind them as they return to Ligue 1.