IVORY COAST FINALLY BECAME CHAMPIONS AGAIN

Ivory Coast has finally lifted the African Cup of Nations trophy, after beating Ghana 9 - 8 in the penalty shoot-outs in the final on Sunday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

This is the second time that the country has won the trophy in their history. They have waited 23 years to acomplish such feat once again.

                               Ivory Coast are Afcon Champions

The match was goalless after the stoppage time. They played an extra 30 minutes but the game still did not produce any goals, hence the penalty.

Well the penalties were like riding a roller-coaster, at the initial stages Ghana scored their first two spot kicks while the Ivorians lost theirs.

But the uncertainty which the beautiful game is made of, showed up, and Ivory Coast made amends, by levelling the score as Ghana stumbled with their shots.

After the other players had taken their penalties, it came down to the two goalkeepers. By this time the scoreline was 8 - 8.

The Ghanaian goalkeeper, Brimah Razak's penalty was blocked by Boubacar Barry. Then it was the turn of Barry to take his own spot kick. If he scored, his country will lift the trophy once again after such a long time.

He did score and ended the agony of the disappointments of the last two finals they lost in 2006 and 2012. They have played three finals in 9 years.

With the score he sent his nation into a euphoric pleasure that knows no bounds.

The victorious captain, Yaya Toure, said after clinching the hard fought continental trophy.

''Sometimes when you win with your club, it's magical, but winning with your country is something exceptional,'' Toure told the French publication, L'Equipe.

''I've lost twice in the final, so to be here now is fantastic. I'm so happy,'' he added.

Well, credit should not only go to the players but also to their French coach, Herve Renard, who did a marvelous job of selecting players based on merit and not based on past glories.

This is the second African Cup of Nations trophy he has won in a space of three years. In 2012, he led Zambia to their first Afcon trophy.

Let me use this opportunity to congratulate the Ivorians in their winning and the Ghanaians in their galant efforts in the tournament. Ghana should be proud in their performance in the mundial.

It is unfortunate that they lost once again to Ivory Coast in the finals through penalties. The first time in 1992, it was through penalties that Ghana lost to them.

But it is the nature of penalties, it could go either way for the teams. Maybe next time they will do better.
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