Herve Renard guided Cote
D’Ivoire to their first Africa
Cup of Nations success
since 1992. The truimph broke
the duck for the Elephants’
‘golden generation’ who failed to
clinch the title in 2006 and 2012.
vory Coast won their
first Africa Cup of
Nations in 23 years
after beating Ghana
9-8 on penalties after
a 0-0 draw.
This is the second
Africa Cup of Nations
success for Ivory Coast,
having won it in 1992
when they also played
Ghana and overcame
them 11-10 on penalties
after a goalless draw.
The truimph
means that, after a
disappointing 2014 FIFA
World Cup campaign,
the Ivorian Elephants’
‘golden generation’ are
finally successful in a
major tournament. This
also means that it is a
second AFCON success
for Ivory Coast coach
Herve Renard who led
Zambia to the Nations
Cup glory three years
ago. Renard is now the
first mentor to win the
tournament with two
different countries.
The Frenchman
dedicated the truimph
to the Ivorians. Renard
said: “We dedicate
this win to the Ivorian
People. Ivory Coast is
more delighted today
and that’s the most
important thing. I am
happy for the Ivorians
who have been waiting
for this for 23 years.”
Ivory Coast skipper
Yaya Toure described
the Nations Cup 2015
victory as unbelievabe.
“When you win with
your team it’s quite
amazing, but when you
win with your country it’s
unbelievable,” said the
four time African Player
of the Year.
“I’ve been waiting tor
so many years now. I’ve
been dreaming about
this. It’s difficult right
now to describe the
feeling as a captain, it’s
something special,” said
the ecstatic and relieved
Toure after the dramatic
penalty shoot-out.
At club level, Toure
has helped Manchester
City win two English
Premier League titles in
the last four seasons.
However, the 31 year old
midfielder could not do
the same for his country
until the AFCON 2015.
Yaya missed out on
the continental glory
when Cote D’Ivoire were
defeated on penalties
in 2006 and 2012 and
their 2014 FIFA World
Cup campaign was
disappointing.
The Ivorians started
off their 2015 Nations
Cup with two 1-all draws
agaisnt Mali and Guinea.
The Elephants booked
themselves a place in
the quarterfinals after
beating Cameroon 1-0
in their last group stages
encounter.
The first round was not
good for the Ivorian stars
Yaya Toure, Gervinho
and Wilfred Bony. The
trio came to the AFCON
party in the quarterfinals
as the new Manchester
City striker Bony scored
twice to help Ivory Coast
overcome Algeira 2-1.
Yaya was again on
target in the semifinals
as the Elephants
trampled DR Congo
3-0. The final against
Ghana was decided
on penalties as neither
side could not break the
deadlock.d
MILESTONE! Cote D’Ivoire
coach Herve Renard is the
first to win AFCON with two
different nations.
AFCON 2015: The Review 5
PHOTOS: afcononline.com
I
Champions of Africa!