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Our referee today is Bakary Papa Gassama from Gambia.

In team news  Ghana, they have restored Asamoah Gyan to the line-up in place of Jordan Ayew, with the ace striker now recovered from the injury he suffered against Guinea in the quarterfinals.

Whiles, Ivory Coast have made just one change to the team that beat DRC in the semifinals, with veteran goalkeeper Copa Barry replacing Sylvain Gbohou to make his first appearance of the tournament.

One of these two teams will end a long, long wait for AFCON glory. The Elephants won their only continental trophy back in 1992, while the Black Stars' most recent triumph was a full decade earlier in 1982.

Welcome to the Africa Cup of Nations final, a West African derby between heavyweights Ivory Coast and Ghana.

 

Cote D'ivoire : Copa Barry, Kolo Toure, Siaka Tiene , Serge Wilfried Kanon, Eric Bailly, Serge Aurier, Yaya Toure, Geoffroy Serey Die, Max Gradel, Gervinho, Wilfried Bony

Ghana : Razak Braimah, Harrison Afful, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah, Baba Rahman, Mubarak Wakaso, Afriyie Acquah, Christian Atsu, Andre Ayew, Asamoah Gyan, Kwesi Appiah

 

The match is underway!

National anthems done and dusted, we're almost ready for kick-off.

Ivory Coast wear all-orange, Ghana are in all-white.

Wakaso tries a long range shot, but sees his effort well blocked.

'Ivory Coast wear all-orange, Ghana are in all-white.

Yaya crosses from Ivory Coast's first corner kick, but it's well defended by the Black Stars. 

Another Elephants corner, this time it drifts all the way through to Tiene, whose cross is unconvincingly cleared by Ghana's backline. 

Yaya shoots on goal from the free kick… straight at the ‘keeper and comfortably saved by Braimah.

'Elephants awarded a free kick just outside the box after a foul on Tiene.

'Yaya appeals for a penalty after a challenge from Acquah, but the referee isn’t interested.

'Appiah heads clear from another Ivory Coast corner. 

'Gradel unhappy with a challenge from Rahman, and he has words with the Ghana defender.

Twenty minutes played, still no goals here in Bata.

'Aurier with a great sliding tackle to quell a Ghana attack.

'Gervinho tees up Gradel, who drills a powerful shot high and wide from the edge of the box!

'Geoffroy Serey Die (Cote D'ivoire) is cautioned. 

'Yaya shoots on goal from the free kick… straight at the ‘keeper and comfortably saved by Braimah.

Ivory Coast having to work hard in midfield to try and keep pace with Ghana's very mobile players.

'Ghana showing signs of taking control of the game now...

'Atsu with a long range strike that hits the post! Barry was beaten to his left but saved by the woodwork!

'It's been a tightly contested match so far, neither side is giving an inch in this battle.

Ayew looks to cross from the left by-line, but the angle is too tight and his effort hits the outside of the upright.

'Ten minutes to play in the first half, can either side strike a blow in this time period?

'Afful miscues an acrobatic attempt at a clearance, but it falls kindly for his goalkeeper.

Lovely skill down the right flank from Gervinho, but Rahman sticks to him and wins the ball back. Great defending.

'Now it's the turn of the Ghana goalkeeper to get his hands on the ball. Neither has been called upon to make a major save as yet...

'Barry with safe hands from a Ghana free kick, the veteran 'keeper has looked very much at home for the Elephants.

The referee brings the first half to an end. 

Aurier crosses from the right, well cleared by Mensah.

'Boye with a vital challenge to win the ball ahead of Gervinho, who would have been in on goal otherwise.'Atsu cuts inside from the right, plays a pass inside for Gyan, who shoots high and wide from the 'D' of the box.

Andre Ayew with a cynical trip on Yaya and he's lucky not to be booked.

'Tiene heads clear from a corner kick, Acquah then has a wild shot that is well off target. 

'Gervinho is crowded out on the edge of the box... Ghana really recognise the danger he poses and put plenty of defenders on him.

'No changes from either side at the half time break.

In fact neither of them is, and Kolo heads clear from a Ghana free kick driven into the penalty area.

'Boye and Bailly with a confrontation which should see them both booked...

Siaka Tiene (Cote D'ivoire) is cautioned. 

Braimah with safe hands from an Ivory Coast corner kick. Still we await the first goal... 

'Gradel with a ball to Gervinho on the edge of the box, but he's denied by a great challenge.

'In fact neither of them is, and Kolo heads clear from a Ghana free kick driven into the penalty are

70'Another long range effort from Wakaso... again well off target. Sums up the match so far.

'Boye heads wide from a half-chance in the Ivory Coast box.

Wakaso shoots from long range... well struck, but over the crossbar.

'Cote D'ivoire: Seydou Doumbia replaces Max Gradel 

'Tiene with a terrible attempt to cross from the left that has Herve Renard rolling his eyes in frustration.

Wakaso's corner kick is poor, cleared by the first defender. 

'Gradel with an acrobatic clearance from an Afful cross.1'Braimah with safe hands from an Ivory Coast corner kick. Still we await the first goal... 

'Gradel with a ball to Gervinho on the edge of the box, but he's denied by a great challenge.

'In fact neither of them is, and Kolo heads clear from a Ghana free kick driven into the penalty area.

Atsu beats his man down the right of the box, but his pull-back is behind Gyan, who can't get a clean shot on target!

'Another long range effort from Wakaso... again well off target. Sums up the match so far.

Tiene with a teasing ball from the set piece, Braimah bravely punches clear, good goalkeeping from the Ghanaian!

'Ivory Coast with a free kick in scoring range... can Yaya make something of this?

'Yaya's corner kick is well defended by Ghana. The set pieces haven't been of a great quality tonight. 

'Atsu beats his man down the right of the box, but his pull-back is behind Gyan, who can't get a clean shot on target!

Bony with a header, but it loops over the top of the target for a free kick.

'Aurier with a dangerous low cross from the right, but again Ghana's defence has the answer for every question asked of them.

'Twelve minutes left, it's looking like we are headed for extra time. Perhaps even penalties, just like these teams' AFCON final meeting in 1992...

Boye's okay to play on. Seven minutes of regulation time remaining...

'Ghana have Boye down with a knock to the head, they'll hope he can recover quickly.

'Bony with a header, but it loops over the top of the target for a free kick.

There will be three minutes of added time.

'Aurier's low cross forces a save from Braimah and his defence clears the loose ball! Heart-in-mouth moment for the Black Stars...

'Gyan tries to find Appiah's run in behind the defence, but Barry gets there first.

'Wakaso shoots from a free kick... deflected wide but there's no corner kick awarded.

Into extra time we go. The game will need a major shake-up if it isn't to go to penalties...

'The referee signals the start of the first period of extra time. 

Up to the 100 minute mark. Still no goals in this AFCON final, which has not lived up to its hype.

'Ghana: Jordan Ayew replaces Kwesi Appiah 

'Renard on the sidelines had to hurdle a Ghana player as he skids out of play.

'Gyan looks to be through on goal, but the offside flag goes up...

'Ghana with a corner kick, but again Ivory Coast's defence stands firm. 

he referee blows for the end of the first period of extra time. 

'Eric Bailly (Cote D'ivoire) is cautioned. 

A short back-pass almost gives Doumbia a sniff of goal, but Braimah clears under pressure.

Gervinho pushes forward into the box, passes inside for Doumbia, but the striker cannot control and Braimah claims the ball.

'Ghana with two scoring chances at the start of the second half of extra time, but they and a resulting corner kick still don't break the deadlock. 

Another corner kick, this time it falls for Wakaso on the edge of the box but he shoots wide. 

Gervinho almost breaks through, the defences are showing signs of cracks now...

Cote D'ivoire: Salomon Kalou replaces Siaka Tiene 

Bailly takes a shot to the face and there's a break in play while he receives treatment.

Cote D'ivoire: Salomon Kalou replaces Siaka Tiene 

Ghana: Frank Acheampong replaces Christian Atsu

It's going to be penalties in this AFCON final...

119'Bony with a chance to feed Gervinho, but he overhits the pass into the goalkeeper's hands.

120 + 3'Copa Barry (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Razak Braimah (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Fail 

120 + 3'Geoffroy Serey Die (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'John Boye (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Eric Bailly (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Baba Rahman (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Serge Wilfried Kanon (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Harrison Afful (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Kolo Toure (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Salomon Kalou (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Jonathan Mensah (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Yaya Toure (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Andre Ayew (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Seydou Doumbia (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Frank Acheampong (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Fail 

120 + 3'Serge Aurier (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Afriyie Acquah (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Fail 

120 + 3'Junior Tallo (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Fail 

120 + 3'Jordan Ayew (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

120 + 3'Wilfried Bony (Cote D'ivoire) Penalty Shootout - Fail 

120 + 3'Mubarak Wakaso (Ghana) Penalty Shootout - Goal. 

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Comments

This article has 27 comment(s) , give your comment

Readers Comment

  • zambian 9 years ago

    great ghana team next time hire renard

  • franconija 9 years ago

    you deserve to lose because you boast too much, had it been you win, nobody would have hear word. you deserve it my dear.

  • NONI(9JA 1ST SON) 9 years ago

    hahahaahahaha GHANA should stop participating in AFCON cos they will never win it with 16participating teams.... Forget about the four big cups you won in the '60s, it was a four nations tourney....... kikikikikikiiii

  • Tor 9 years ago

    It was very clear that we weren't ready for the cup. We dropped Stephen Adams who is our best keeper for penalty kicks. He proved that at the Chan. Our technical team shd bow down their heads in shame. Kwarasey was right, until we get that nasamu guy out, our goal keeping department will always let us down. Fatau dauda is far better than Razak. We hard a solid defence that was why he wasn't exposed. From henceforth we shd use only local keepers period.

  • Kite 9 years ago

    We talk too much in this country. We have allowed useless so call sports journalist to push most of our fine players out. They make so much noise for wrong players. Until we stop this attitude of big people in society pushing for call ups for their mediocre players, the stars will continue to disappoint like this. Razak had no businesss to be in this squad. Frank acheampong shd go back to the meteors, let us give experience a chance. Why shd players like Stephen appiah, Isaac vorsah, Anthony Annan , Michael essien, muntari etc not be playing. Look at the results we had against Egypt, if we had used these inexperience guys, the story would have been different.

  • PITO 9 years ago

    we need dribblers to step up in this 2nd half. Andre Ayew and Atsu must dribble more. Jordan may be introduced to do this but must be advised on his defensive work rate

  • JOHN AKPA ( nickname ) 9 years ago

    APPIAH NEEDED TO BE SUBBED BUT GRANT IS REFUSING. ASSHOLE !!!!!!

  • JOHN AKPA ( nickname ) 9 years ago

    NO MORE APPIAH !!!! WE HAVE MANY OTHERS !!!!

  • TK 9 years ago

    What a boring final.

  • 9ja 9 years ago

    Ghana all the way

  • JOHN AKPA ( nickname ) 9 years ago

    even appiah himself looked at the bench to see if a change was coming coz he couldn't play at this level.

  • Askantwi 9 years ago

    Ghana, we are just idiots. We always seem to find a very painful way to lose most important matches.

  • Askantwi 9 years ago

    After going up 2-0, the coach should have used an experienced players to finish off the match, instead of using inexperienced rookies like Acquah n Acheampong. What a str_repeat('*',strlen('fuck')) up.

  • BANGER 9 years ago

    ATLEAST WE WENT TO THE FINALS GUYS.I KNO THESE BABOON APES ZAMBIANS AND STINKY NIGERIANS WILL BE RUNNING THEIR MOUTHS.ITS ALL GUD.GUD JOB GUYS.

  • Mensah 9 years ago

    Thank you, Askantwi!! Why, and why did Dede not take that kick??? And the fourth kick? Now he is crying like a fool on the field. You were gicen the trophy and decided not to take it. 33 years and counting because of stupidity.

  • BANGER 9 years ago

    Ghana's chance will come in 2049.

  • OGYA 9 years ago

    I cannot believe who made the dumbest mistake by putting two idiots up there to take a penalty kick after having two goals up. This is unbelievable. I am about to throw up.

  • OGYA 9 years ago

    This is very very painful. I cannot believe who made the dumbest mistake by putting two idiots up there to take a penalty kick after having two goals up. This is unbelievable. I am about to throw up. We would have won this tournament hands down if the GFA was not trying to control what the coach wanted to do. We had sulley Muntari and Essien. This would have been ours. Nyantakyi needs to go. We need a different GFA President with different ideas. Nyantakyi needs to go

  • askantwi 9 years ago

    Losing in the finals like this is worse than being eliminated in the group stages.

  • askantwi 9 years ago

    Ogya, you are just stupid. This has nothing to do with Nyantakyi or GFA chairmanship. It looks like someone is paying you to run your stinking mouth like that. People like you and your behind the scene cowards are always drawing Ghana backwards.

  • Tor 9 years ago

    We talk too much and end up giving opportunity to wrong players. This goalkeeper is useless. Nasamu shd be sacked with immediate effect. Who ever adviced grant to allow acheampong and afriyie to be in the set has failed us big time. A novice Isaac Asare missed his kick when Ghana was leading in 1992. Why shd we repeat the same mistake. This is very painful, I understand dede 's cry. Better lack next time. If asamoah had stayed on but for Ghanaians unnecessary bashing on penalties.

  • OGYA 9 years ago

    Sorry for your unschooled intellect. I hope you understand what the word stupid meant before you typed it. Common sense deserve common sense response. You by your name shows you do not have any common sense, hence all you know is to insult. It comes easy for you. I hate peanut brains.

  • Mensah 9 years ago

    It is better to exit in group stages than to give victory away in this manner.

  • OGYA 9 years ago

    You twerp you use "an" for idiots? Unbelievable head case.

  • TK 9 years ago

    Humble pie again

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