Zambia win it!

Zambia conjured up a shock when they toppled star-studded Ivory Coast 8-7 in a penalty shoot-out to claim their first ever Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday.With the sides goalless after extra time Zambia’s Stoppila Sunzu converted the magic spot kick after Arsenal striker Gervinho missed for the Elephants.The result meant misery for hot favourites Ivory Coast, who failed to claim the title despite not conceding a goal throughout the entire competition until Sunday’s shootout.It also revived memories for Didier Drogba, who missed a penalty in the second half of normal time, and company of their 2006 penalty shoot out final defeat to Egypt in Cairo.Zambia, motivated by the memory of the 1993 national team wiped out in a plane crash off the Libreville coast, went into the 2012 climax as outsiders.But they covered themselves with glory, hassling and harrowing their star-studded rivals all the way to the penalty shoot-out, and then holding their nerve to prevail in the dramatic, barely watchable denouement.Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui fielded the same side that saw off Mali 1-0 in the semifinal.His Zambian counterpart, Herve Renard, recalled striker Emmanuel Mayuka, after his starring role in getting the decisive goal in the 1-0 last four defeat over Ghana.He joined captain Christopher Katongo in spearheading the Chipolopolo’s (Copper Bullets) attack.Russian-based midfielder Chisamba Lungu came in for Francis Kasonde.After 14 kicks were converted, Kolo Toure and Gervinho failed to find the target for the Elephants as Zambia’s Rainford Kalaba also blazed over.But Stoppila Sunzu found the top corner to complete an amazing 8-7 victory.It was a heartbreaking end for Ivorian skipper Didier Drogba, who missed a spot-kick in normal time.And it means the wait goes on for an Ivory Coast team replete with many Premier League and European stars, with the country losing the 2006 final to Egypt in the same way and last winning the tournament 20 years ago.But for the Chipolopolo, who have already been runners-up twice, it concluded a tournament where they were inspired by the loss of the 1993 Zambian team after a plane crash close to the venue of the final in Libreville.The last time the southern African country reached the final in 1994, it was just a year after 18 Zambian teams members died as they took off from the Gabonese capital.En route to the final, the current team had spoken of the strength they had gained in remembering that tragedy.And in winning the shootout, they showed a steely determination to beat their supposedly more illustrious opponents with a performance that was built on an indefatigable sprit.

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Zambia win it!