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BATA: Ivory Coast soccer players celebrate with the trophy after winning their African Cup of Nations final soccer match against Ghana in Bata, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015. — AP Ivory Coast win African Nations Cup

BATA: Ivory Coast finally won the African Barry, who was only playing because of chance of the second half with Atsu speeding Nations Cup after a decade of close calls as injury to Sylvain Gbohouo, saved from Ghana away before passing inside to Asamoah Gyan, they edged neighbours Ghana 9-8 on penal- goalkeeper Razak Brimah and then, after who was off target with his effort. ties after a goalless draw following extra time requiring treatment for an injury, got up to Gyan had been doubtful for the final with a in Sunday’s final at Estadio de Bata. slot home the decisive spot kick. Victory for pelvic injury but passed a late fitness test. Goalkeeper Boubacar Barry converted the the Ivorians also handed Frenchman Herve Mubarak Wakaso blasted over the top with a decisive spot kick to deliver the trophy for a Renard the distinction of becoming the first strong effort from well outside the penalty country who had been heavily fancied for the coach to win the Nations Cup with different area midway through the second half as the previous five tournaments but flopped in all of countries after success with Zambia in 2012, midfield stranglehold kept chances to a mini- them. when they edged the Ivorians in a shootout. mum. It was a second title for Ivory Coast whose “We had a team with the right fighting However, Atsu’s strong running down the only previous success came when they also spirit and we rode our luck a little,” said right tested the Ivorian defence again when beat Ghana in a similar post-match marathon Renard. An exhausted Yaya Toure looked more he provided Gyan without another chance shootout 11-10 in Dakar in 1992. relieved than elated, saying: “I just want to go after 72 minutes but it was blocked. Their triumph came on a night when 22 home and celebrate with my family and As the game approached 90 minutes a people died outside an Egyptian soccer match friends. It’s taken a long time for us to get scramble in the Ghana penalty area, after after security forces barred fans from entering here.” Brimah could only parry the ball, gave Ivorian the stadium, the public prosecutor’s office substitute Seydou Doumbia a half-chance but said. FEW CHANCES he too was thwarted by a quick defensive Most of the dead were suffocated when the Two hours of action delivered few chances recovery. Doumbia missed another half- crowd stampeded after police used teargas to as the tired-looking teams fought out an chance at the start of the second half of extra clear the supporters trying to force their way error-strewn midfield battle, although Ghana’s time when striker Gervinho found a second into a league match between two Cairo clubs, Christian Atsu came close to scoring with a wind and the game had to go to penalties to Zamalek and Enppi, doctors and witnesses snapshot that hit the post after 26 minutes. separate the teams. said. Yaya Toure had the game’s first effort on goal Ghana’s agonising shootout defeat means The trouble highlighted the problems fac- after 10 minutes but his free kick went they are still waiting for their first Nations Cup ing African football and overshadowed the straight into Brimah’s arms. Gervinho fed Max success since 1982. “But I think we can be very thrilling climax to the Nations Cup tournament Gradel with a clear chance on the right of the proud of what we did at this tournament with ABIDJAN: Supporters of Ivorian football national team force a police barrier to in Equatorial Guinea, who stepped in as hosts attack soon after but he blasted a hurried shot you guys giving us no chance,” Ghana coach enter the Houphouet Boigny stadium to welcome their team a day after its vic- after Morocco was stripped of the hosting wide. Avram Grant told reporters. “We have a team tory over Ghana in the 2015 African Cup of Nations final. — AFP rights. Ghana’s first effort was inches away from a for the future here.” A total of 22 kicks were needed to settle the goal as Andre Ayew weaved across the penal- Morocco were stripped of the tournament 2015 title with the Ivorians missing their first ty box before feeding Atsu, whose first time having asked for a postponement amid con- two attempts. It came down to the keepers to shot hit the upright before bouncing back cerns over the spread of the Ebola virus and victorious Elephants settle matters after all the outfield players had into play. have been banned from the next two African taken a penalty each with the score at 8-8. An Ivorian mistake gave Ghana the first Nations Cups. — Reuters welcomed home

ABIDJAN: Hundreds of thousands of travelled in his motorcade through the supporters at the airport and on the celebrating crowds Sunday night, Wiggins looks forward to life after the road streets of Ivory Coast’s commercial capi- declared Monday a national holiday and tal Abidjan welcomed home the national called upon Ivorians to come to the QATAR: Former Tour de France winner and London in 2012. “It’s not going to stop me from sleeping football team yesterday after its victory lagoon-side national stadium to show world time-trial champion Bradley Wiggins is The one title missing is the prestigious tonight and I’m feeling pretty good,” he at the African Nations Cup in Equatorial their appreciation for the team. enjoying his final days as a road racer, as the Paris-Roubaix classic which will serve as his added after the second stage from Al Wakra Guinea. “It’s wonderful. We had an fantastic ongoing Tour of Qatar, serves as a warmup final race with Sky on April 12. to Al Khor Corniche. The West African state won its first team and a coach without equal ... The for a final crack at the Paris-Roubaix. The “That’s my last race and I was good there “My priority is really not to get injured Nations Cup title in nearly a quarter of a Ivorian people are proud,” Ouattara said cycling icon, who became the first British rid- last year (finished ninth) and the one I prefer. and to race hard when I have the opportuni- century on Sunday, edging neighbours following the victory. er to win the Tour de France in 2012, the I would love to do something special there ties and to come out in good form for the Ghana 9-8 in a dramatic penalty Cheering crowds decked out in Ivory same year he won time-trial gold at the but everyone wants to win and everyone is next races,” Following his final race, Wiggins shootout after extra time ended in a Coast’s national colors orange, white and London Olympics, showed no signs of nos- dreaming of it,” Wiggins, who was born in says he’s looking forward to returning to his goalless draw. green - swamped the airport and packed talgia as he winds down his road career with Belgium, told AFP. love of track cycling. Supporters, who had watched their the 15-km (9 miles) route that brought the Sky Team. The decision to compete at the tough “I love the track and I started to ride on Elephants team lose in two finals during the team from the airport to the city cen- “It seems to me that it’s the good time to Tour of Qatar and deal with its brutal condi- tracks when I was 12-years-old. I spent my a decade that saw their country descend tre. Yesterday morning, hours before the move on to other things. I’ve done every- tions were part of his preparation plans but a first fifteen years riding track and road racing into political turmoil and two civil wars, players were due to arrive there, the thing and I’ve known a lot of success with lowly finish in yesterday’s second stage saw a is not as pleasant as it seems.” poured into the streets following the win 45,000-seat stadium was full and police this team (Sky),” said the 34-year-old, who virtual sand storm relegate Wiggins to 94th The Brit also has the 2016 Rio Olympics in in a party that lasted much of the night. officials broadcast messages ordering will switch back to track cycling later this on the day and over nine minutes behind his sights as he looks to add to his six medals “This cup must bring us peace. The fans to stay at home for security reasons. year. Norwegian stage winner Alexander Kristoff. and four golds, as well as a crack at the one politicians must be like the players. They “I haven’t slept since yesterday. I’m Wiggins has won 25 of his 37 victories at “It’s one of those horrible races and no hour world record. First up however is a must be united and create peace for us, tired but I’ve been there at the stadium the heart of the British team while his finest one really likes it but for the classic races, it’s tasty 10.9km individual time-trial in today’s their people!” said supporter Bakary since 6 a.m. (0600 GMT) to wait and to hours remain the Tour de France triumph the best preparation because it’s really so dif- third stage where Wiggins will set off as one Diomande. see the players,” Fatou Kouyate said as and Olympic title on his home streets of ficult. of the hot favorites. — AFP President Alassane Ouattara, who she waited. — Reuters