Ivory Coast 0(9)-0(8) Ghana
The Ivory Coast team and staff pose
with their Africa Cup of Nations trophy having defeated Ghana 9-8 on
penalties on Sunday night
Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony
holds up hero Boubacar Barry (centre), who scored the winning penalty in
the final in Bata
The Ivory Coast team celebrate landing the Africa Cup of Nations on penalties, their first AFCON title since 1992
Toure
forced Razak Brimah into a save from an early free kick, and was
generally more involved than he has been in the tournament’s previous
games. However, once again, the Ivorian captain was less than the star
we know he can be when played further forward.
Ahead
of him Bony was even more frustrated, unable to get into the game and
carrying none of the goal-threat that saw him become the Premier
League’s top scorer in 2014. Time after time City’s newest striker
failed to hold the ball, or to find a team-mate once he had got it under
control.
Indeed,
as has been the case for much of this season, the City stars were
outshone for most of the game by a Chelsea counterpart. Christian Atsu,
who has shown throughout this tournament why Everton made such an effort
to secure him on loan this season, was the best player on the pitch for
much of the game.
His
excellent play on the right wing brought most of Ghana’s attacking joy,
most notably when he got in behind and crossed for captain Asamoah Gyan
in the 70th minute, only for the former Sunderland striker to miss his
kick.
And
it was Atsu who came closest to finding the net during the 90 minutes
which occasionally promised much but eventually delivered little. The
Everton winger struck the post with a lovely dipping shot that had
beaten Boubacar Barry completely, but didn’t quite have enough bend to
take it into the corner of the net.
The
Black stars hit the upright again not long after, Andre Ayew getting in
behind the defence and wrong-footing Barry, only to see his shot go
behind off the frame of the goal.
Yaya Toure (centre) celebrates having
won the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast, following a penalty
shoot-out win over Ghana
Malian forward Frederic Kanoute (right) and Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika deliver the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations trophy
Ivory Coast's Serey Die (centre) makes a high challenge on Ghana's Mubarak Wakaso during the AFCON final on Sunday evening
Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony fires towards goal as the Ivory Coast struggled to break down a resolute Ghana side
Former Arsenal forward Gervinho attempts to keep possession for the favourites in the AFCON final against Ghana
Gervinho
was a menace from the start, running at defenders with the mix of
skilful play and uncontrolled chaos that has become his speciality. The
former Arsenal man, as is his way, rarely had much in the way of end
product, but he was always a threat for the Ghanain defence.
He really should have scored in the second period of extra time, but took a poor touch when he was through on goal.
The
one time that that Gervinho did pick the perfect pass the opportunity
was spurned by Max Gradel, the winger who once plied his trade for
Leeds. Following a dreadful mistake from Baba Rahman, Gradel was played
in on goal, only to blast over from 15 yards.
Ivory Coast's Serge Aurier (centre) attempts an acrobatic overhead kick with the surrounding Ghana defence watching on
Ivory Coast and Manchester City talisman Yaya Toure drives forward under the attention of Ghana's midfielder Afriyie Acquah
It
was the Ivorians’ best chance in a game noticeable more for the three
red cards that didn’t happen than for anything that did. Asamoah Gyan
was the first beneficiary, when he stamped on Eric Bailly off the ball,
unspotted by referee Bakary Gassama. Gyan’s team-mate John Boye was
equally lucky when he headbutted Eric Bailly in the second half, and
Gassama again failed to notice.
A
referee can only give what he sees, however, so both Ghanaian
incidents, though wrong, can be understood. How the official contrived
to let Serey Die stay on the pitch, however, is another matter.
There
is no question he saw the kick to Wakaso Mubarak’s groin, which though
not malicious was certainly painful for the Celtic man, and prompted a
yellow card.
Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard reacts as a decision goes against his side during the AFCON final on Sunday evening
Ghana's midfielder Andre Ayew (right) challenges Ivory Coast's midfielder Serey Die as their sides vie for the AFCON 2015 title
He
also awarded a free kick when the Ivorian midfield cynically chopped
down Atsu to stop an attack, but inexplicably decided it was not worthy
of a second yellow card.
It was the closest we came to drama at Estadio de Bata until the shoot-out.
But as the remnants of the Ivorian ‘golden generation’ now know, waiting a long time for success makes it all the sweeter.
Ghana's forward Asamoah Gyan (right)
vies with Ivory Coast's midfielder Yaya Toure in the air during the 2015
Africa Cup of Nations final
Ghana's midfielder Andre Ayew (left)
speaks to Ghana's coach Avram Grant during the 2015 Africa Cup of
Nations final ahead of extra-time
Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony misses his penalty early on in the shoot-out, with his effort crashing off the woodwork
Ghana's goalkeeper Razak Braimah dives as he fails to save the winning penalty from Ivory Coast's goalkeeper Boubacar Barry
Ivory Coast's goalkeeper Boubacar Barry scores the winning spot-kick before celebrating his team's triumph on Sunday
Ghana's midfielder Andre Ayew is comforted by his coach Avram Grant at the end of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final defeat
Ivory Coast's head coach Herve Renard (centre) celebrates and dances with his players after winning the Africa Cup of Nations
