Ivory Coast win African Cup in shootout against Ghana

Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry saved the day, and then he scored the winner. The 35-year-old veteran blocked a penalty attempt from opposing goalkeeper Razak Braimah and then stepped up to convert his own to give the Ivory Coast a 9-8 shootout win over Ghana on Sunday in the African Cup of Nations final. The match at Bata Stadium had finished 0-0 after 120 minutes. The Ivorians, who have lost two shootouts in finals in the last decade, failed to convert their first two penalties, but a string of must-score shots hit the target, including goals from Yaya and Kolo Toure and Salomon Kalou. "When sometimes you win with your club, it's quite amazing," said Yaya Toure, who won the Premier League with Manchester City last season. "But with your country, it's unbelievable." The Ivory Coast, which won its only other title in 1992 also on penalties against Ghana, played this time without Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who has retired from international soccer. But the team still had Man City teammates Wilfried Bony and Yaya Toure, a four-time African player of the year. Bony took the Ivory Coast's first attempt in the shootout, but he hit the crossbar. Tallo Gadji also missed. Four-time champion Ghana, which has not won the continental title since 1982, is coached by Avram Grant. The Israeli led Chelsea to the 2008 Champions League final, but lost on penalties to Manchester United.