Ivory Coast beats Ghana to win African Nations Cup in penalty shoot-out

Kolo Touré - Ivory Coast - African Cup of Nations 2015 (AFP)

Ivory Coast has finally won the African Nations Cup after a decade of close calls as it edged neighbour Ghana 9-8 on penalties after a goalless draw following extra time at Estadio de Bata.

Goalkeeper Boubacar Barry converted the decisive spot kick on Monday morning to deliver the trophy for a country which had been heavily fancied for the previous five tournaments but flopped in all of them.

Barry, only playing because first-choice Sylvain Gbohouo was injured, scored the decisive penalty as Ivory Coast ended their 23-year drought for the continental championship.

The Elephants, whose only previous triumph in the competition came back in 1992, looked set for their third final defeat in nine years when they fell 2-0 behind in the shootout after the teams played out a goalless draw in Bata.


Victory for the Ivorians also handed Frenchman Herve Renard the distinction of becoming the first coach to win the Nations Cup with different countries after success with Zambia in 2012, when it edged the Ivorians in a shootout.