Malawi give big cheers to Zambia, African football champions
Zambia on Sunday won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a nerve-racking final at Stade de l’Amitie.
Malawians erupte din celebration to the historic victory of their neibhbours.
It’s Zambia’s first African title and came, poignantly, in the same city where nearly the entire national team was killed in a plane crash in 1993 in the country’s worst sporting disaster.
The game had remained goalless at the end of extra-time.
Stoppila Sunzu scored the winning goal for Zambia after goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene saved Kolo Toure’s spot-kick and Gervinho blasted over. Rainford Kalaba missed for the Zambians.
Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba missed a penalty for his side in the 70th minute when he side-footed the ball over the cross-bar.
Zambia dominated the game and should have scored in regulation time, but failed to make the most of their chances, with Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry pulling off a number of excellent saves.
In the penalty shoot-out it was Zambian goalkeeper Mweene who was the hero for his side as he not only saved one penalty, he also scored the fifth for his side.
The Ivorians are the first team not to win the competition even though they did not concede a single goal. They also lost the 2006 final against Egypt on penalties.