2015 Africa Cup of Nations Final

2015 Africa Cup of Nations Final

The Estadio de Bata hosted the final
Event 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
Ivory Coast Ghana
Ivory Coast Ghana
0 0
after extra time
Ivory Coast won 9–8 on penalties
Date 8 February 2015 (2015-02-08)
Venue Estadio de Bata, Bata
Referee Bakary Gassama (Gambia)

The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Final was a football match that took place on 8 February 2015 to determine the winner of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The match was held at the Estadio de Bata in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.[1]

Background

The Ivory Coast appeared in their 20th Africa Cup of Nations tournament, their sole victory coming in 1992 when they defeated Ghana on sudden-death in a penalty shootout at the end of a goalless draw at the Stade de l'Amitié in Dakar, Senegal. They also played in the final in 2006 and 2012, losing in shootouts after goalless draws against Egypt and Zambia respectively.

Ghana also appeared in their 20th tournament, and their 9th final. They have previously won 4 (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982) and lost 4 (1968, 1970, 1992, 2010).

Ivory Coast were 28th in the FIFA World Rankings (3rd among African nations), while Ghana were 37th (5th among African nations).[2]

Route to the final

Ivory Coast Round Ghana
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
 Guinea 1–1 Match 1  Senegal 1–2
 Mali 1–1 Match 2  Algeria 1–0
 Cameroon 1–0 Match 3  South Africa 2–1
Group D winner
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ivory Coast 312032+15
 Guinea 30303303
 Mali 30303303
 Cameroon 302123−12
 Final standings Group C winner
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 320143+16
 Algeria 320152+36
 Senegal 311134−14
 South Africa 301236−31
Opponent Result Knockout stage Opponent Result
 Algeria 3–1 Quarterfinals  Guinea 3–0
 DR Congo 3–1 Semifinals  Equatorial Guinea 3–0

Match

Summary

The match was 0–0 after 120 minutes. Both teams played conservatively, preferring to attack on the break, so a 0–0 draw after extra time was predictable.[3] Ghana had the better chances in regulation time, hitting the woodwork twice with Christian Atsu's 25-yard shot and André Ayew"s effort from a tight angle.[4] The Ivory Coast had an opportunity earlier when Max Gradel hit the ball over the bar after a Ghana mistake.[5] The match went to penalties. Ghana went to a 2–0 lead with Wilfried Bony and Junior Tallo both missing for the Ivorians.[4] Veteran second choice Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry, who was called on in the final to replace the injured Sylvain Gbohouo, produced a save against Afriyie Acquah.[5] Frank Acheampong then missed for Ghana, and the teams were level. Both teams continued to make their penalties. After every outfield player had taken a shot, the match was decided by Barry, who saved an attempt from Ghana goalkeeper Brimah Razak and then scored past Razak himself to give the Ivory Coast the title.[4]

Details

Ivory Coast
Ghana
GK 1 Boubacar Barry
RB 17Serge Aurier
CB 21Eric Bertrand Bailly   105+1'
CB 4 Kolo Touré
LB 22Wilfried Kanon  87'
CM 20Serey Die  14'
CM 19Yaya Touré (c)
RW 15Max Gradel  67'
LW 5 Siaka Tiéné  57'  116'
CF 12Wilfried Bony
CF 10Gervinho  120+2'
Substitutes:
DF 2 Ousmane Viera
FW 3 Roger Assalé
MF 6 Cheick Doukouré
FW 7 Seydou Doumbia  67'
FW 8 Salomon Kalou  116'
MF 9 Cheick Tioté (injured)[6]
FW 11Tallo Gadji  120+2'
DF 13Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro
MF 14Ismaël Diomandé
GK 16Sylvain Gbohouo (injured)[6]
FW 18Lacina Traoré
GK 23Sayouba Mandé
Manager:
France Hervé Renard
GK 1 Brimah Razak
RB 23 Harrison Afful
CB 21John Boye
CB 19Jonathan Mensah
LB 17Baba Rahman
CM 11Wakaso Mubarak
CM 6 Afriyie Acquah
RW 7 Christian Atsu  116'
LW 10André Ayew
CF 3 Asamoah Gyan (c)  120+1'
CF 2 Kwesi Appiah  99'
Substitutes:
DF 4 Edwin Gyimah
DF 5 Mohamed Awal
MF 8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu   120+1'
FW 9 Jordan Ayew  99'
GK 12Ernest Sowah
MF 13Mohammed Rabiu
MF 14Solomon Asante
FW 15Mahatma Otoo
GK 16Fatau Dauda
DF 18Daniel Amartey
FW 20David Accam
FW 22Frank Acheampong  116'
Manager:
Israel Avram Grant

Man of the Match:
Afriyie Acquah (Ghana)[7]

Assistant referees:
Djibril Camara (Senegal)
Ali Waleed Ahmed (Sudan)
Fourth official:
Janny Sikazwe (Zambia)

References

  1. ↑ "AFCON match schedule". African Football. Graeme Jackson. December 4, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Men's Ranking, 08 January 2015". FIFA.com. FIFA. January 8, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Ivory Coast win Africa Cup of Nations in penalty shootout against Ghana". The Guardian. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ivory Coast 0-0 Ghana". BBC. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Ivory Coast hold their nerve to beat Ghana, win 2015 African Nations Cup". ESPNFC. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Media Start List: Côte D'Ivoire - Ghana" (PDF). CAF. 8 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Orange AFCON 2015 Awards and Best XI". CAF. 12 February 2015.

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