Ivory Coast win 2015 Africa Cup of Nations on penalties

ANKARA

Ivory Coast were crowned as 2015 Africa Cup of Nations winners after beating Ghana 9-8 on penalties in the final match at Estadio de Bata, in Bata on Sunday night.

Ghana were close to scoring the leading goal in the first half, but Christian Atsu hit the post in the 25th minute and his fellow citizen Andre Ayew's shot clipped the bar in the 36th.

None of the teams managed to break the deadlock in regular time thus the final match went to extra time.

In extra time neither Ivory Coast nor Ghana scored any goal so the winner had to be decided by penalty shootout.

Ivorian forward Wilfried Bony and midfielder Junior Tallo missed penalties. Meanwhile in Ghana, midfielder Afriyie Acquah, forward Frank Acheampong and goalkeeper Brimah Razak could not convert the penalties for their team.

Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry converted the last penalty kick successfully so Ivory Coast won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations 9-8 on penalties.

Nicknamed 'Les Elephants', Ivory Coast had won their second Africa Cup of Nations title after 1992.

In addition head coach of the winners Ivory Coast, Herve Renard is the only head coach who managed to win the title with different two teams. Renard had made Zambia win 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou watched the game.