Adbijan, Cote d"Iviore - Zambia lifted the Africa Cup of Nations Sunday after beating the Ivory Coast 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shoot out in the final in Libreville.

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba missed a penalty in the second half of regulation play as the match ended scoreless after extra time.

Both teams were successful with their first seven penalties of the shoot out, including Drogba, until Manchester City's Kolo Toure saw his effort saved by Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.

But Rainford Kalaba missed the chance to clinch the game for Zambia when he shot over.

With the tension almost unbearable, Arsenal's Gervinho blazed his penalty wide and this time Zambia's Stoppila Sunzu made no mistake to give his side victory.

It is a fairytale triumph for Zambia, who were making an emotional return to the Gabon, 19 years after the plane crash which claimed the lives of their coach and 18 members of their squad.

The Copper Bullets were winning Africa's top football prize for the first time after appearing in two previous finals.

Their French coach Herve Renard was overjoyed. "This represents something enormous, something which appeared unrealizable before the competition began," he told AFP.

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