After a barren 120 minutes of action at the Estadio de Bata in Equatorial Guinea, it was the Elephants of Ivory Coast who smiled last, lifting the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after a 9-8 win over the Black Stars of Ghana following penalty shootouts.

Ghana had sought to avenge defeat to Ivory Coast in the 1992 final – the only time the Elephants have lifted the trophy.

Before the clash, Ivory Coast and Ghana had met in 30 official international matches. The Black Stars have claimed 12 wins, one more than the Elephants’ 11, while seven encounters have been drawn.

For Ivory Coast the final was their third in the space of nine years having ended as runners-up in 2006 and 2012 to Egypt and Zambia respectively.

Ghana had suffered trophy drought before tonight’s clash. The Black Stars last lifted the coveted title in 1982, having also won the crown in 1963, 1965 and 1978.