Ivory Coast missed out on a second African Cup of Nations win on Sunday night as they were beaten 8-7 on penalties by Zambia in Libreville, Gabon.
It was an enthralling shoot-out and one that will be remembered not only for being the typical nervy spot-kicks, but that a team of Zambia’s quality and size could go all the way to win the competition and defeat a team full of Europe’s best players in Ivory Coast.
It was also said that the Zambia players won it for the players and staff killed …
ZAMBIA WIN THE 2012 AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS
Zambia shocked Ivory Coast to win the 2012 African Cup of Nations after winning a marathon penalty shoot-out 8-7 at the Stade d’Angondje.
Zambian centre-back Stoppila Sunzu converted the winning penalty after English Premier League duo Kolo Toure and Gervinho had missed for the Ivory Coast, with fellow Zambian Rainford Kalaba also missing. The game had finished in 0-0 at the end of the 90 minutes, and the two nations played out the thirty minutes in extra-time without either managing to break the deadlock. …
IVORY COAST 1 – 0 MALI
A superb solo run from forward Gervinho gave Ivory Coast a 1-0 victory over Mali in the African Cup of Nations semi final and set up an all-orange final clash with Zambia on Sunday.
The first half goal from the Arsenal forward was the only goal in the game and the clean sheet for the Ivorians means they haven’t conceded in the whole tournament so far. Gervinho settled a tight game on the stroke of half-time as he ran unimpeded from the halfway line to curl …
The Captain – Didier Drogba
A talisman for both club and country, Didier Drogba will be an important player for the Ivory Coast should they finally get their hands on the Cup.
With 80 caps and 52 goals for his country, the Chelsea striker has well and truly helped put the Ivory Coast on the international map of football. He played an instrumental role in their qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals and has contributed plenty on their journey to this year’s Cup of Nations.
At 33, he is perhaps not the …
Ivory Coast secured their place in the quarter finals of the African Cup of Nations after beating Burkina Faso 2-0.
An early goal from Salomon Kalou and an own goal from Bakary Kone consigned Burkina Faso to defeat and confirmed their exit from the competition.
There was one change to Les Elephants from their previous game, as Igor Lolo made way for Didier Zokora after the Trabzonspor midfielder had completed a suspension.
The six Premier League players in the Ivory Coast side attracted the crowds, but were largely disappointing; indeed, Burkina Faso coach …
Ivory Coast began their 2012 African Cup of Nations campaign with a victory as they beat Sudan 1-0 on Sunday.
Captain Didier Drogba scored his 51st international goal after 39 minutes as Les Elephants failed to take their chances, against a resolute Sudan side determined to frustrate their Group B rivals.
Both Yaya Toure and Gervinho directed headers goalwards but were off-target, and the Arsenal forward should have put his side ahead shortly afterwards following good work from Drogba.
As the half time interval drew nearer, the Nile Crocodiles looked likely to successfully …
It has been twenty years since Cote d’Ivoire last won the African Cup of Nations, despite being consistently tipped as one of the favourites to win the competition over the past few years. After being knocked out in the quarter finals in 2010, Les Elephants will be hoping to live up to expectations this time around – particularly as Cameroon, Nigeria and Egypt, the winners of the last three Cups, have all failed to qualify.
The Ivory Coast won their two warm-up friendly games before the competition, Chelsea pair Salomon Kalou …
Luck, or a lack of it, played a part in Ivory Coast’s disappointing World Cup campaign. But the team hailed as the country’s ‘Golden Generation’ have only themselves to blame, in a campaign which crumbled under the expectations of a continent.
Bad luck placed them, once again, in arguably the toughest group in the tournament. Bad luck gave their star striker Didier Drogba a broken elbow a week before their first game. Bad luck saw them concede a second, killer goal to Brazil which should have been disallowed for handball. Twice. …
Too little too late for Ivory Coast
As in their first World Cup campaign, Ivory Coast ended their group in South Africa 2010 with a victory, but it wasn’t enough to see them progress to the knockout stages.
Goals from Yaya Toure, Romaric and Salomon Kalou gave the Elephants a 3-0 win over North Korea, but with Portugal earning a point against Brazil, even pulling back the nine goal deficit between the teams would not have been enough.
Knowing that only a comprehensive victory, and a defeat for Portugal, would qualify them, Sven …
After a nightmare second round of matches, Ivory Coast find themselves on the verge of elimination after tomorrow’s game against North Korea.
A solid draw against Portugal in the first game now looks like two crucial points lost, as a loss to Brazil and Portugal beating the Koreans leaves the Elephants teetering on the brink.
Such was the manner of Portugal’s victory, a 7-0 romp, that not only do Sven Goran Eriksson’s team need to win and hope that Portugal lose to Brazil, they also require a nine goal swing in their …
