THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

Zambia crowned new champions of Africa

ZAMBIA - CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Champions

ZAMBIA - CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Champions

Zambia has won the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2012 in an exciting final against Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) at the Stade de l’Amitie in Libreville, Gabon.

Both team were locked goalless after regulation and extra-time. Chelsea FC star Didier Drogba missed a penalty in regulation time and wasted a golden opportunity to put his side on the winning path.

The final had to go into a deciding penalty shoot-out and Zambia kept their cool, while Cote d’Ivoire missed two spot kicks.

Kolo Toure and Gervinho failed to convert their penalties and Stoppila Sunzu fired it home for the “Chipolopolo”. Zambia won the shoot-out 8-7.

Zambia, ranked 71st in the FIFA World Rankings did already exceed all expectations by getting into the final. The “Chipolopolo” reached the final in 1974 and 1994, but failed to win the trophy in those years.

The Zambian team coached by Frenchman Herve Renard held a camp in India as part of their CAF Africa Cup of Nations preparations and won two friendly matches against a GOA XI (4-1) and the Indian national team (5-0).

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My congratulations to the Zambian national team and the people of Zambia!

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ZAMBIA 0-0, 8-7 COTE D’IVOIRE
[on penalties]

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GOALS
none

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LINE-UPS

Zambia
16-Kennedy Mweene; 4-Joseph Musonda (12′ 23-Nyambe Mulenga, 74′ 10-Felix Katongo), 13-Stoppila Sunzu, 5-Hichani Himoonde, 6-Davies Nkausu; 19-Nathan Sinkala, 3-Chisamba Lungu, 8-Isaac Chansa, 17-Rainford Kalaba; 11-Chris Katongo [C], 20-Emmanuel Mayuka

Unused Substitutes
1-Kakonje Kalililo, 2-Francis Kasonde, 9-Collins Mbesuma, 12-James Chamanga, 14-Noah Chivuta, 15-Kampamba Chintu, 18-Evans Kangwa, 21-Jonas Sakuwaha, 22-Joshua Titima

Cote d’Ivoire
1-Boubacar Barry; 17-Siaka Tiene, 4-Kolo Toure, 22-Souleyman Bamba, 6-Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso; 5-Didier Zokora (75′ 13-Didier Ya Konan), 9-Cheik Tiote, 19-Yaya Toure (87′ 12-Wilfried Bony), 10-Gervinho; 8-Salomon Kalou (63′ 15-Max Gradel), 11-Didier Drogba

Unused Substitutes
3-Etienne Arthur Boka, 7-Seydou Doumbia, 11-Felisberto Amaral, 14-Kafoumba Coulibaly, 16-Daniel Techi Yeboah, 18-Abdul Kader Keita, 20-Igor Alexandre Lolo, 21-Emmanuel Eboue, 23-Amoukou Gnanhouan