( CNN ) -- Zambia lifted the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after beating the Ivory Coast 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shootout in Sunday 's 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 shootout , including Drogba , until Manchester City defender Kolo Toure saw his effort saved by Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene . Rainford Kalaba then missed the chance to clinch the game for Zambia when he shot over . With the tension almost unbearable , Arsenal forward Gervinho blazed his penalty wide , and this time Zambia 's Stoppila Sunzu made no mistake to give his side an emotional victory . It was a fairytale triumph for Zambia , who returned to Gabon 19 years after the plane crash which claimed the lives of the team 's coach and 18 members of their squad . The Copper Bullets finally won Africa 's top football prize after losing in two previous finals , while the favored Elephants suffered a shootout defeat again after a similar heartbreak against Egypt in 2006 -- when Drogba also missed a penalty . Zambia 's French coach Herve Renard was overjoyed . `` This represents something enormous , something which appeared unrealizable before the competition began , '' he told AFP . `` I know we 're not the best but we have a strength and force that animated our team . '' But for Chelsea striker Drogba and his star-studded team it was a bitter disappointment after not conceding a goal in open play in their six matches in the tournament . Clear-cut chances were few and far between in wet conditions , but Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry had to make a brilliant early save to foil Nathan Sinkala . Drogba set up Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure for his side 's best chance of the first half , but the African player of the year fired wide . Ivory Coast 's 72nd-minute penalty came after Gervinho was pushed over , but Drogba 's effort never threatened the goal . His Zambian counterpart Christopher Katongo hit the woodwork in extra time before the drama of penalties and victory for the underdogs .
Zambia win Africa Cup of Nations in Libreville . The Copper Bullets beat Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties . Match had ended goalless after normal and extra time . Didier Drogba missed penalty for Ivory Coast in second half .