Ivory Coast clinched the Africa Cup of Nations title by defeating Ghana 9-8 on penalties to secure their first trophy win in the competition since 1992.
Keeper Boubacar Barry was the hero for Les Elephants as he denied his opposite number Brimah Razak, and then fired the next spot kick into the net to hand Herve Renard's men the victory.
Neither side could find a breakthrough in normal time as Christian Atsu came closest for the Black Stars when he hit the post, while both teams displayed nerves in extra time, taking the match to the epic shootout where Ivory Coast clinched the win.
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Renard's side were the first to threaten when Wilfried Bony was brought down on the edge of the box and a free kick was awarded. Yaya Toure took the set piece and curled his effort over the wall, but straight into the arms of Razak.
Les Elephants came closer minutes later when Gervinho raided forward down the left and did well to pick out the run of Max Gradel on the opposite flank. However, the winger failed to hit the target with his right-footed strike.
Ghana came within inches of taking the lead in the 24th minute when Atsu picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and drilled a shot towards the top corner, only to see his effort clatter off the post and bounce clear.
The Black Stars were growing into the match and Andre Ayew almost pulled off a moment of magic as he beat his man down the left and fired a low shot towards the near post, but his strike hit the side-netting.
In the second half, Ghana found space again in the final third when Atsu broke away down the right and he managed to cut the ball back to Asamoah Gyan on the edge of the box. However, the skipper could only direct his effort over the bar.
Avram Grant's men were beginning to up the ante and were inches away from taking the lead as Wakaso Mubarak lifted a free kick into the box, which was nodded into the path of John Boye, but he headed his effort wide of the target.
Atsu continued to cause problems for Renard's side as he raided down the right before firing a low cross into the box for Gyan, but the forward couldn't get a shot away as the ball travelled just behind him.
Ivory Coast hit back with a chance of their own as they won a free kick just outside the box, which was whipped into a dangerous area by Siaka Tiene, but Razak diverted the ball away from danger.
Both teams had chances to win the game in the final minutes of normal time as Wakaso saw a free kick deflected wide of the post, while at the other end Serge Aurier's cross was palmed into the path of Seydou Doumbia, but his scuffed shot was well cleared.
Neither team managed to threaten the goal in the first half of extra time as the players showed signs of fatigue and nerves in the Estadio de Bata.
However, in the second half Ghana broke upfield immediately from the kickoff and Wakaso launched a powerful strike at goal, which was blocked into the path of Gyan, but he too could only hit the wall of orange encamped on the six-yard box.
The failure to break the deadlock sent the game to a penalty shootout, and Bony was the first to lose his composure from the spot as he drilled his kick off the crossbar and his teammate Junior Tallo soon followed as he fired wide.
Afriyie Acquah had the chance to put Ghana in command, but his penalty was saved by Barry, while Frank Acheampong fired wide to bring the Ivory Coast back into the shootout.
The shootout went to sudden death as the sets of players managed to convert for six successive rounds, which brought the keepers to the spot. Razak stood over the ball and had his effort saved by Barry, who blasted the ball home with the next kick to win the competition for his team.
Simon Sinclair
Eq Guinea
Nigeria
Ivory Coast
Guinea-Bissau
Cape Verde
Egypt
Ghana
Mozambique
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Angola
Burkina Faso
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