BATA: Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry saved the day, and then he scored the winner.

The 35-year-old veteran blocked a penalty attempt from opposing goalkeeper Razak Braimah and then stepped up to convert his own as Ivory Coast ended a 23-year African Nations Cup title drought with a 9-8 shootout win over Ghana after a goalless draw following extra time in Sunday’s final at Estadio de Bata.

It was a second title for Ivory Coast whose only previous success came when they also beat Ghana in a similar post-match marathon shootout 11-10 in Dakar in 1992.

It was a highly tactical and cagey finale to the biennial African football showpiece. Billed as a ‘dream’ final between the west African neighbours, it became the fourth decider in the last eight to finish goalless and be settled by spot-kicks.

The Ivorians, who have lost two shootouts in finals in the last decade, made a disastrous start to the 22-penalty climax with the first kick from Wilfried Bony hitting the crossbar and Junior Tallo firing the second spot kick wide, but a string of must-score shots hit the target, including goals from Yaya and Kolo Toure and Salomon Kalou.

It came down to the keepers to settle matters after all the outfield players had taken a penalty each with the score at 8-8.

Barry, who was only playing because of injury to Sylvain Gbohouo, saved from Brimah and then, after requiring treatment for an injury, got up to slot home the decisive spot kick.

Victory for the Ivorians also handed Frenchman Herve Renard the distinction of becoming the first coach to win the Nations Cup with different countries after success with Zambia in 2012, when they edged the Ivorians in a shootout.

“We had a team with the right fighting spirit and we rode our luck a little,” said Renard.

Ghana’s agonising shootout defeat means they are still waiting for their first Nations Cup success since 1982.

“But I think we can be very proud of what we did at this tournament with you guys giving us no chance,” Ghana coach Avram Grant told reporters. “We have a team for the future here.”

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2015

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