In an amazing game tonight, Zambia won the African Cup of Nations after the game with the Ivory Coast ended 0-0 after extra time, and Zambia won the penalty shoot-out 8-7 with the Ivory Coast missing their last two penalties through Kolo Toure and Gervinho.
Didier Drogba missed a penalty for the Ivory Coast after 70 minutes when he blazed over the bar.
It will be a trivia question in the future that the Ivory Coast did not concede a single goal in this tournament, and still didn’t win it.
Newcastle’s top midfielder Cheick Tiote started the game for the Ivory Coast, played the whole game and took the very penalty in the shoot-out and scored with a wonderful shot into the top right hand corner.
Tiote started alongside Gervinho (Arsenal), the Toure brothers – Kola and Yaya (Manchester City), Drogba and Kalou (Chelsea) of the English Premier League.
In the first half there were very chances created, and the weather in Libreville was very wet after heavy rain had been falling.
The slick conditions were expected to help the Ivory Coast, who had previously won the tournament once back in 1992 and Zambia had never ever won the tournament.
Play was very even between the two sides in the first half.
After 70 minutes the Ivory Coast were awarded a penalty, when Gervinho moved into the box at speed and Chansa and Mulenga brought him down.
But would you believe it, Chelsea’s Drogba blasted the ball way over the bar – a terrible miss by the striker, and the second penalty he had missed in the tournament.
The game was still tied at 0-0 after 90 minutes, and with the Ivory Coast having made their three substitutions, Cheick Tiote of the Ivory Coast and top Premier club Newcastle United, would play out the remainder of the game in extra time.
And after the extra 30 minutes of extra time played, when it was obvious the players were tiring quickly, it was still 0-0 and no goals scored – and in fact the Ivory Coast have not conceded one goal in this tournament – therefore it would go to penalties.
What a way to settle the final!
Here’s how the penalties went:
Cheick Tiote of Newcastle took the very first penalty and it was brilliant under the tense conditions as he dispatched the penalty into the top right hand corner – the Newcastle star player has done his job 1-0
Christopher Katongo steps up(Zambia captain) and puts into the bottom corner 1-1
Bony Wilfried scores into the top left corner 2-1
Mayuka scores into the top left corner again 2-2
Sol Bamba misses his penalty kick for the Ivory Coas,t but the referee allows him to take it again, judging that the goalkeeper was off his line – and he scores – wow – 3-2
Chansa scores for Zambi – 3-3
Max Gradel scores into the left corner 4-3
Felix Katongo steps up and scores for Zambia 4-4
Drogba scores his penalty for the Ivory Coast – 5-4
Zambia goalkeeper Mweene scores into the corner! – 5-5
Siaka Tiene scores for the Ivory Coast into the top left hand corener – not one penalty missed yet – 6-5
Sinkala scores for Zambia right in the top corner – 6-6
Didier Konan scores into the top left corner – 7-6
Chisamba Lungu scores into the left corner. – 7-7 – what a shoot out this is!
Kolo Toure misses as goalkeeper Mweene makes the save – 7-7
Rainford Kalaba steps up to win it for Zambia and he misses as he puts it over the bar – 7-7
Gervinho misses as he blasts the ball wide of the goal – 7-7
Sunzyu scores – and Zambia are African Cup of Nations Champions
Would you believe it, and it will be a terrible disappointment for Cheick Tiote as the Ivory Coast were huge favorites to win this.
46 comments so far
MagpiesFlyHigh
Feb 12, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Comment #1howay the lads
Scottishtoon95
Feb 12, 2012 at 10:36 PM
Comment #2oh, tiote’s not gunna be partying on tueday then, lol, tis’ a shame. Never mind hope he releases his anger in 13 days time via a thunder strike ala v arsenal
mattyNUFC
Feb 12, 2012 at 10:38 PM
Comment #3ash1001
in response to the last thread about pulling players from competitions like the ACoN…
a poster came on here from Nigeria (i think) at the beginning and basically said how ignorant some of us were being complaining about the acon. he said if the tournament wasn’t staged every two years these teams and federations would simply not be able to generate the revenue necessary to stay afloat.
not to mention their compatriots have about zero chance of being able to afford to watch them elsewhere
i too think it’s extremely ignorant as it’s proved a minor inconvenience to our first world agendas. some things are more important than the EPL
JackButler
Feb 12, 2012 at 10:43 PM
Comment #4If the England player showed as much love and pride for their country perhaps they’s do a lot better
WWJBD
Feb 12, 2012 at 10:45 PM
Comment #5matty
Exactly it means so much to Africa and its like their Euros very silly to ask for managers to try and put a stop to it
ash1001
Feb 12, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Comment #6I am not against the tournament been played, but this time around matches have been played to just about empty stadiums, resulting in a total lack of atmosphere, which seemed to be passed down to the players.
The Ivory Coast with all the supposed Super Stars should have waltzed through it.
I agree that the African Nation football Federations need support, but thats FIFA role surely, I also agree that Zambia gave it there all, the goalkeeper especially.
I just feel it should be held out of the main European football seasons
ian7523
Feb 12, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Comment #7People bang on a lot about loyalty from the players to the club. When a player like Tiote, who has proved his loyalty time and time again, is playing in a tournament which clearly means so much to him the least we can do is show some loyalty to him, even if it means it puts the club at a slight disadvantage for a few matches. Gutted for him.
catchy in norway
Feb 12, 2012 at 10:56 PM
Comment #8good night lads
mattyNUFC
Feb 12, 2012 at 10:57 PM
Comment #9ash
i’m no weatherman but i’m sure it has something to do with that when timing comes into the equation. so many different geographies there that i’m sure they’re competing with rainy seasons, typhoons, mudslides, least of all scorching temperatures
mattyNUFC
Feb 12, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Comment #10…and the usual armed revolution too, mind.
still remember what happened to the Togo team in Angola last tourney…..
JackButler
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:00 PM
Comment #11Catchy = Its easy to be an armchair manager saying he should have done, he should have done that, but the fact is if it was as easy as you make out we could all be premier league managers, we all criticize the manager it’s part of every club, but you make out that Pardew is a bungling idiot with absolutely no clue as to what he’s doing and the fact that we are 6th in the league is all down to luck and nothing else.
Try keeping in mind we have a very small squad with players missing through injury, suspension and away on international duty. We are changing the entire set up of the club which takes time and we are going to have games like yesterday, the second half at Fulham and the Liverpool game.
We are well ahead of where we thought and hoped we’d be at this point in the season, just try to enjoy it for once and not only try to rip everything the manager and players do apart
WWJBD
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:02 PM
Comment #12ash1001
So the big money leagues are more important than the ACoN?
As for teams waltzing through competitions have u seen the FA cup/league cup? Its the magic of such events sometimes the under dogs will come out on top
JackButler
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:07 PM
Comment #13ash1001 there Premier league games played every week to stadiums that are far from full
jayphoto
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Comment #14think its wrong for clubs to try and keep theyre players from ACON! Teams sign african players knowing they will lose them every few years for 4 weeks, if they dont like it, don’t sign them! Personally, im happy to lose Ba for 5 games if it means the other 33 league games he plays are in a toon shirt!
gorgonzola
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:18 PM
Comment #15Max Gradel
thats another super player that could play our wings..
Hey matty….
LewSpi
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:20 PM
Comment #16Isn’t the ACoN on next year aswell?
gorgonzola
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:22 PM
Comment #17Reading last few posts I think the cirtics of us the critics of Pardew are reading us wrong.
I don’t think he should be sacked…. far from it I think he needs to drop his stubborn attitude just for a few games see how it goes….
I am rather curious as how this summer will pan out. I took the contract of colo into question and got my head bitten of….hey I want the best for my club….for Me colo is class, but he is 30 now and he aint getting faster, How long and what kind of contract will he get he is on 80 K a week mind you….
I reckon if Bayern are in for Hoilett we cant have him his wages will be more than double….
However over and above a third and fourth choice striker, a quality WINGER I would invest with a Quality CB possibly over a RB position for next season I am talking up to Cisse price range….
jayphoto
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:24 PM
Comment #18despite the outcome of the african cup of nations, if we where going to sign players from Africa, it is better to look at Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt! From western africa, players from senegal, ghana and ivory coast already have high prices! Algeria have some fine young players coming through (abeid being 1 of them) I did however think Manucho of angola didn’t get a chance at man utd and has some talent!
gorgonzola
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:25 PM
Comment #19I think Pardew is possibly thinking well we just got Obertan and Marveaux and we have Sammy and we have Jonas so its a saturated position, thing is to me none of them are quality enough barring Jonas, and he as of late is not cutting it for me…
gorgonzola
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:27 PM
Comment #20sorry cant judge marveaux havent seen him….
Shot Bru
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:29 PM
Comment #21It is LewiSpi…..in the land of vuvuzelas…
Way to go Zambia..insanely emotional for those lads playing in the same country where the great side of ’93 lost their lives in a plane crash.
Had the privilege of playing with and against some fantastic Zambian players in my day. Truly beautiful people and magical country.
RIP Chipolopolo ’93
RIP
gorgonzola
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:29 PM
Comment #22Shot Bru
You from SA I take it 🙂
jayphoto
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:30 PM
Comment #23gorgonzola, i will argue with you about HBA all day long 😉 but on collocini, i completely agree! Im a big fan of his, but at 30, a 5 year 80k a week deal might not be in the clubs best interests! I think a 3 year deal with clauses of extra years for appearances would be better, but its possible the club also think this and this is why we are taking so long in sorting it! Fully expect tompkins to come in in the summer and possibly 1 other cb! love collo but if he doesnt sign the club will move on, it always does!
HatemOrLoveHim
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:30 PM
Comment #24for all you geordies who missed the shoot out for one reason or another heres a link http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/penalties-zambia-8-ivory-coast-7/
enjoy! oh and about the beating to tottenham yesterday? stop worrying seriously, it was always going to happen, they were going to demolish any team to try and make redknapp stay. Chins up for we have our midfield pack back against wolves 😀
gorgonzola
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Comment #25Really nice to see Zambia win so nice :)) I am proud of the underdog…
gorgonzola
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:34 PM
Comment #26japhoto my point exactly ….
Shot Bru
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:37 PM
Comment #27Yes gorgonzola….areyou?
jayphoto
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:38 PM
Comment #28actually excited to see if Marveaux can ever get and stay fit! I’ve seen him play a couple times in france (allbeit both times away to PSG) and if he wasn’t injury prone he’d be a 15m player! Similar to a younger malouda! Quick, clever with good distribution! Doesn’t offer a great amount defensively (no less than obertan tho) but his end product is much better!
gorgonzola
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:40 PM
Comment #29Indeed mate indeed 🙂
I originally emigrated to SA but have got their citizenship and to be honest I feel South African more than anything as I got there at an early enough age….
Shot Bru
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:42 PM
Comment #30gorgonzola where are you based bru?
gorgonzola
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:44 PM
Comment #31Johannesburg, but I left SA for Europe and regretting every minute 🙂
Brutooon
Feb 12, 2012 at 11:56 PM
Comment #32Tiote anger of not winning will be reveal in the Wolves game
American Toon 13
Feb 13, 2012 at 1:11 AM
Comment #33Didn’t know Tiote fancied himself from the spot, then again, who doesn’t?
Brutooon
Feb 13, 2012 at 1:59 AM
Comment #34http://www.footballfancast.com/2012/02/football-blogs/arguably-the-ten-poorest-players-in-the-premier-league/attachment/shola-ameobi-3
Guys, check that link.
Apparently (not a suprise) that Shola Ameobi is in the list
davis_toons
Feb 13, 2012 at 7:35 AM
Comment #35Someone mention Keegan and AP…With the kind of player that we have now…i would like keegan to takeover for a stun.
And we might see some really attaking football. Because Keegan is an attaker and AP is not.
I would like to see Hatam play in Newcastle shirt again. No offence. And only by playing games he will improve.
When we have already lost the match, cant he get 1 sub apperance every now and then?
2-0 down im thinking of Hatem already..3-0 still not sign..i knew Ap will not play him already for this match. Slim chance to see him at halftime.
Actually 2-0 down if we use Hatam, he will be blame for losing the ball and cause the 5-0 defeat, RIGHT!?
So its much better not to use him at this match actually. Or maybe some might put the score as (7 to 8 – 0 ).
Kelvin Keegan Mindset : IS there a Different??? 5-0 to 8-0, with Ben Arfar on ? – (Is still a lost and the table standing is still on our side, isnt it?)
Mine Mindset : Btw, this is a very negative thinking, (8-0) what if we can get a goal or two and we change it to a little more defensive and hold the game out.
AP thinking : 2-0 we are in dead shit. Just got to get it through..to half-time and see. We cant attack and fight back. We got to hold and defence and break to counter at times. etc..
(Not very attacking mindset and not Even Defensive, its he mistake, YES it is!)
… 2-0 down …ok you defence, all the way to 90mins- good job
… 3-0 down ..you still defence, and you see that there are still goals to crawl in..still defence? Unless you didnt see that there will be goal coming in..then you deserve to be sack. (Btw, everyone in Newcastle Shirt knew that there are still hungry goals in Spurs and we cant do anything about it but not you.)
4-0 .. you have taken it. (But is just half- time, we are not magic team, but we can try to score a goal and fight it, 4-1 the fans will be happy..4-3 the fans will see your effort)
…90MINS
5-0 .. the fans knew, you did not want to change anything much actually. Thats your style and we still concede..
AP needs to know more on Newcastle Culture
davis_toons
Feb 13, 2012 at 8:02 AM
Comment #36Zambia players is more hungry to win it…can see that.
Lynxie
Feb 13, 2012 at 8:05 AM
Comment #37Ed:
Not one penalty missed before the deciding one?
Did you watch it?
Obviously you must have went for a beer when first Ivory Coast, and then Zambia blasted thier penalties Chris Waddle style into row Z……………..?
Diggedydaws
Feb 13, 2012 at 8:22 AM
Comment #38What no-one has noticed is how many of our goals have come from Colobeing pulled out of position, he gets pulled into the left hand corner too much and it pulls our shape all out. When Guti tracks back it doesn’t happen so much it doesn’t happen so much on our right flank as Saylor and Williamson don’t do this.It cost us the 1st 2 goals on sat!
That is all…
Spuggy
Feb 13, 2012 at 8:31 AM
Comment #39Collo was pulled out of position for two goals because santon was way up field and Simmo got skinned off bale and collo had to cover
ilovetoon8788
Feb 13, 2012 at 8:33 AM
Comment #40Honestly, to those who thinks Pardew is doing a fantastic job. Where do you think we’d be if not for Demba Ba? Bottom 6 is where I think we will be.
Obertan laziness is no better than Hba whom Pardew always complains about. But for some reason he’s preferred. Pfft..