By Mark Gleeson
LIBREVILLE Feb 8 (Reuters) – Top-ranked Ivory Coast lived
up to their billing by reaching the African Nations Cup final as
the tournament delivered yet another surprise on Wednesday when
Zambia also reached Sunday’s deciding match.
Wednesday’s semi-finals dished up only two goals but
continue the dramatic theme that has enlivened the continental
championship after several docile recent editions.
A breathtaking breakaway goal from Gervinho secure the
expected win for Ivory Coast, the highest world-ranked side in
African football, over Mali in Libreville but Zambia’s 1-0
victory over Ghana in Bata, Equatorial Guinea added to the list
of shocks at the three-week tournament.
Emmanuel Mayuka struck just 12 minutes from time to
eliminate the highly fancied Black Stars and extend now to more
than 30 years Ghana’s wait for a Nations Cup title.
Zambia scored against the run of play when halftime
substitute Mayuka, 21, received the ball with his back to goal.
He controlled it with his first touch then swung and sent a shot
curling past Adam Kwarasey and in off the foot of the post for
his third goal of the tournament.
“When I had to ball, I saw the defender backing off a little
bit and then I just said to myself take a shot,” Mayuka told
reporters.
“And then I just said to myself thank you God and I knew
this was our day.”
It was a fine finish but bettered in quality later by
Gervinho, who flicked the ball past Mali defender Ousmane Berthe
with a deft back heel and sprinted 30 metres into the penalty
area to score just before halftime
Continued…
