Zambia clinch the crown

2012 AFCON Final
Result: Zambia 0-0 (8-7 pen) Cote d'Ivoire
Date: 12 February
Venue: Stade d'Angondje
Zambia defied the odds as they beat Cote d'Ivoire 8-7 on penalties to win the Africa Cup of Nations trophy for the first time in their history. The game ended 0-0 after extra-time.
Didier Drogba blazed a penalty over the bar in the second-half in what was the only real defensive blunder from Zambia who put on yet another stunning performance.
Zambia created a host of chances in the first period, while the Elephants also had some decent opportunities to open the scoring but the score remained locked at 0-0.
Chipolopolo made a sublime start and almost took the lead just two minutes in. A low corner was flicked into the area and Nathan Sinkala met it with a thumping strike but Copa Barry managed to get down to make the save.
Zambia went close again in the 14th minute when Emmanuel Mayuka flashed a header just wide. They then suffered a major blow when Joseph Musonda suffered an ankle injury and went off with tears flowing as he realised he would miss one of the biggest games in his career.
Nyambe Mulenga came on as his replacement and still Zambia were the more threatening side with Rainford Kalaba having a powerful free-kick deflected wide.
Despite this, the Elephant showed that they had the quality when Didier Drogba flicked a backheel into the path of Yaya Toure in the centre of the area but he uncharacteristically scuffed his shot wide.
Drogba then sent a pass through for Gervinho to chase but the Arsenal forward's shot was well blocked and it trickled to Kennedy Mweene.
Zambia should have taken the lead a minute later when the ball found Mayuka in the area with acres of space but he failed to connect with his volley and the chance was gone.
The open game continued in the final few minutes but no goals arrived as the match remained locked at 0-0.
The game got a bit scrappy after the break and Drogba suffered an early knock which left him dazed for a little while. During that time, he was unable to turn a cross from Gervinho home.
The Ivory Coast captain then should have put the Elephants in the lead after Gervinho had earned a penalty, despite it having seemed as if the foul occurred just outside the area, but Drogba lifted his penalty over.
Yaya Toure was substitute in the 87th minute for Wilfried Bony despite the game looking destined for extra-time. Zambia then went close to snatching the win in stoppage time but a brilliant tackle from Kolo Toure ensured that Mayuka could not get his shot away.
Chipolopolo started extra-time well as Chris Katongo saw his goalbound shot flicked onto the post by the foot of Barry after he was found by his brother Felix.
Gradel flashed a ball across the face of goal for the Elephants but nobody was there for the finish. He then failed to get a shot away in the dying minutes after Kennedy Mweene had failed to collect a cross in the 117th minute and the game went to penalties.
The quality of spot-kicks was again superb and Zambia had the chance to win it after Kolo Toure had failed to convert but Rainford Kalaba could not finish them off. Gervinho then missed a second for Ivory Coast and Stophira Sunzu fired home to give Zambia a shock win. SoccerLaduma