African Cup of Nations - Zambia shock Ghana

Wed, 08 Feb 18:40:00 2012

Ghana paid the penalty as Asamoah Gyan saw a spot kick saved before Zambia scored with their only attack of the second half in a surprise 1-0 win in their African Cup of Nations semi-final in a sodden Bata.

Emmanuel Mayuka - 0

Zambia substitute Emmanuel Mayuka completed a smash-and-grab victory for the underdogs as he tucked the ball beyond Ghana keeper Adam Kwarasey from 22 yards out on 79 minutes to complete a miserable day for the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists.

It could have been all very different for Ghana if Gyan had tucked away his penalty kick after Davis Nkausu had taken out Kwadwo Asamoah with a late challenge in the box on eight minutes.

Mweene dived to his left to complete a fine stop. Ghana huffed and puffed, but could not blow Zambia's house down with Mayuka's goal enough to provide Zambia's gateway to the final on Sunday where they will bid for a first win in the African Cup of Nations final.

They were losing finalists in 1974 in Egypt and in Tunisia in 1994, but will hope to go one better in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Derek Boateng was red carded after picking up a second yellow card in the final 10 minutes, but the writing was already on the wall for Ghana by that stage.

Zambia will return to the Gabon capital of Libreville for the final 19 years after their national squad was tragically wiped out when a plane crashed heading towards Dakar for a World Cup qualifier with Senegal in 1993. All 25 passengers died on the flight.

Under swish coach Herve Renard - who prowled the touchline in the rain with jeans and a white shirt - they are certainly physically strong enough to provide a stern test for Ivory Coast or Mali in the final.

Mweene did his bit to upset the odds as he saved from Gyan on nine minutes before doing likewise to deprive Jordan Ayew of a goal on 49 minutes.

Jordan Ayew should have scored for Ghana when he popped up unmarked on 32 minutes, but fresh aired his volley from Andre Ayew's flighted free-kick.

Zambia also had their opportunities. None better than Christopher Katongo's chance on 33 minutes as he burst into the Ghana box, but sliced his shot wide from 10 yards out.

Ghana continued to be wasteful despite enjoying the bulk of possession as John Boye headed over on 51 minutes while Gyan dragged a shot at goal on 65 minutes but Mweene stood tall to make a solid stop.

Mweene missed a high ball from Samuel Inkoom's cross on 69 minutes, but Gyan ended up nodding wide before Mayuka's goal heralded the end of Ghana's bid to win the trophy for the first time since 1982.

Eurosport

Comment 35 - 54 of 54

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  1. asamoah, missed 2 crucial penalties in his life, one in­ the last minute against uruguay and this one..i feel­ sorry for him indeed. Well done Zambia

    From Delyan, on Fri 10 Feb 18:22

  2. as an Expat who worked in the Zambian Copper Smelters,­ I am so happy for the National Team what a great­ result, now go on and win the Final - Good Luck

    From THOMAS, on Fri 10 Feb 3:19

  3. i am disapointed in asamoah

    From Kingsley, on Fri 10 Feb 0:54

  4. North Africa(Arabs) are out Ghanaians are out not its­ time for the whole West Africa to surrender....time for­ South African team to get the trophy!

    From Edwin Daniel, on Thu 9 Feb 23:40

  5. Well done Chipolopolo! So now concentrate on the next­ target...dont get drowned in the media about your­ success so far.....! We all from South Equator are­ with you!
    Go for it !!

    From Edwin Daniel, on Thu 9 Feb 23:05

  6. We don't need many chances to prove any point, all­ we needed was just one powerful copper bullet to turn­ the black stars into black scars.One bullet silenced­ the entire West Africa.

    The pride of West African­ players is about to be shatered as Ivory Coast awaits­ to be gunned down by the last copper bullet in the next­ few days.

    Like I said over Ghana,Zambia has already­ won the game over Ivory.The Trophy is coming to­ Southern Africa and to Lusaka in particular.

    From Philip, on Thu 9 Feb 21:52

  7. Ghana is my favorite club in africa as it stands now in­ football in africa, but i am so disapointed in that­ penalty that was miss by that young man , oh what is­ happening with my teams these days? same with my­ lovely european team Barcelona , look at mr Mise how­ he dash that penalty to valencia keeper in copa day rey­ .
    mean while i wish the both finalist good luck­ Zambia and Ivory Coast

    From Hope Goody, on Thu 9 Feb 19:42

  8. zambia do it for the 1993 plane crush of our beloved­ soccer players who died in the name of football..may­ their sow rest in pici.ghana try next year.

    From natashavoice, on Thu 9 Feb 19:14

  9. Done us proud boys!! Now go for the cup - you deserve­ it!! God bless you all on Sunday!! CHIPOLOPOLO IYE!!!

    From Inonge, on Thu 9 Feb 19:01

  10. Football is not played on paper,look at Ghana and­ Senegal being baptized in the name of ZAMBIA,here we­ come Gabon we still have an finished business there.Our­ wounds are still fresh for our beloved 23 HEROES.

    From Danny, on Thu 9 Feb 18:08

  11. surprise! Zambia keep going coz we are behind you.

    From Habiba, on Thu 9 Feb 17:21

  12. WELl-DONE ZAMBIA AM PROUD OF U GUYS AS MA NEIGHBOUR­ COUNTRY . NOW IT'S TIME FOR TANZANIA TO LEARN A LOT­ FROM ZAMBIA . GOOD LUCK BOYS (CHIPOLOPOLO) IN THE­ FINAL HOPE U GONA MAKE IT BRING THE CUP IN SOUTHERN­ PART OF AFRICA.!

    From Baraka, on Thu 9 Feb 15:43

  13. Nigeria Super Eagles with 5 home based-players beat the­ Zambia team 2:0 in Kaduna before the Nations Cup, Black­ Start refuse to watch the Video, maybe they­ would've won without Gyan,but they depend on Gyan­ forgetting they could not win against Tunisia until­ gyan was thrown out. Goodluck Zambia!!!

    From joseph, on Thu 9 Feb 14:20

  14. Every dog has a day, we have been considered as­ underdogs from the inception of the tournament but­ alas, wev moved in passionatley advancing to the finals­ .... its not about the physic or the skills or­ whatever, its a mind game pipo .... team work and focus­ and this is what zambia has and what other so called­ favorites lack ....

    From ken, on Thu 9 Feb 14:16

  15. Bravo Chipolopolo, we are proud of you guys.Malawi is­ solidly behind you.

    From KK, on Thu 9 Feb 14:00

  16. Zambia indeed the most entertaining team in this 2012­ Nation Cup. Am not surprise about their exploit. They­ are equally good for the Cup, last nite they're­ better than Black Stars.

    From joseph, on Thu 9 Feb 13:59
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Under no circumstances can we rate Zambia & Ivory­ Coast on Finals....The game could be interesting if it­ were Ghana vs Ivory Coasy on the finals.
    Roggy
    Kenya

    From carol, on Thu 9 Feb 12:55

  18. john from london good lucky in the finals chipolopolo­ boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bullet'bullet,bullet that's­ what i'm talking about well done!

    From JOHN, on Thu 9 Feb 9:50

  19. i am proud of you my neighbor zambia .keeping going

    From jitu, on Thu 9 Feb 8:33

  20. 2 penalty misses 2 many now 4 gyan...not one to turn on­ footballers but he should sticc to rapping with castro­ and leave football to the real playaz
    TEAM BLACK STARS­ will come back stronger

    From Doris, on Thu 9 Feb 5:37
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