Afcon 2015 final as it happened

1. Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations
2. Goalkeeper Barry scores dramatic winning penalty in shootout
3. Goalless after 120 minutes
4. GET INVOLVED: #bbcafcon2015

IVORY COAST WIN THE CUP OF NATIONS

Well everybody, that is that for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Thank you for joining us over the past few weeks and for your contributions.

Bravo Côte d'Ivoire!

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"Herve Renard, having made history, having lifted two Afcon titles, is right in the melee there. What does that say about him? He has made a life for himself as one of the top coaches in African football."

IVORY COAST WIN THE CUP OF NATIONS

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure holds the trophy aloft - cue ticker tape and the squad jumping up and down on the platform. Now for the wideshot photo in front of a big board.

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Fissuh H Kelelom: This was the last chance for many of Ivory Coast first team members. Ghanians can still win next Afcon. They are Young team.

IVORY COAST WIN THE CUP OF NATIONS

Reuters

But Ivory Coast end 23 years of hurt. Look, they will surely be disappointed by their display over 120 minutes, but they hung on in there and defended well.

The trophy is about to be presented.

IVORY COAST WIN THE CUP OF NATIONS

Ghana's Andre Ayew is coach Avram Grant's 'John Terry' for 2015. He tries to console the teary forward as he goes up to collect his losers' medal.

It is now 33 years and counting for the Black Stars...

IVORY COAST WIN THE CUP OF NATIONS

Guess who got the player of the tournament award? Ghana's Christian Atsu.

Right at this moment, that's like discovering the kettle still works after the rest of the house has burned down.

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Thomas Dolfi: Boubacar 'Copa' Barry! It's his moment of glory & no-one else's! The veteran GK tucks away his pen to gain national hero status.

Reuters

IVORY COAST WIN THE CUP OF NATIONS

Ghana's Andre Ayew is inconsolable. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard has ditched the white shirt and gone topless - we can see his pristine white undies though. I mean, really!!

Matthew Kenyon

BBC Sport in Bata

"Neither side deserved to win this final on the basis of a better performance than the other team. It was a very poor final really. Andre Ayew has been in tears after that wining penalty. A nice touch when I saw Renard go over and put an arm round Jordan Ayew, who he coached at Sochaux."

IVORY COAST WIN THE CUP OF NATIONS

Spare a thought for Avram Grant. Another loss in a final and another loss in a penalty shootout. It appeared it would be his and Ghana's day when Ivory Coast missed those early kicks, but alas, no.

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Tim Elgar: Poor old Ghana keeper. Epic penalty shoot out, congrats Ivory Coast

Michael Finnie: Ghana composed themselves amazingly and the amateur dramatics of CIV were a performance that cast a shadow on the fixture.

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Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker: And the winner for best penalty shoot-out is the #AFCON final. Congratulations to the Ivory Coast.

IVORY COAST WIN THE CUP OF NATIONS

Boubacar Barry, aged 35, who replaced regular injured keeper Sylvain Ghobouo for the final is the hero for The Elephants. After scoring he runs over to the track and once again collapses. But he's back up and has joined his Ivorian team-mates in celebration.

Matthew Kenyon

BBC Sport in Bata

"It is a triumph for Ivory Coast boss Herve Renard who has developed this team with great skill. It is a bitter, bitter moment for Ghana, who are walking disconsolate."

BreakingBREAKING NEWS

IVORY COAST WIN THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

GOAL

HE'S DONE IT! Boubacar Barry is the hero for Ivory Coast. He scores the winning penalty, after making a crucial save, by striking his effort high past Razak Braimah.

Barry is getting the special spray, but had got up and been kissed by Yaya Toure. What scenes!

MISSED PENALTY

Ghana keeper Braimah steps up and... his kick is saved by Barry. Now Barry can't get up - again.

GOAL

Serey Die, who looked a tad bit nervous, slots his effort in.

GOAL

Is it goodnight John Boye? No. The Black Star scores, but Barry did get a hand to it.

GOAL

Bailly, who's been on the floor a lot, has enough energy to slot his kick past Braimah. Good accuracy.

GOAL

Rahman slides it past Barry. How are the nerves?

GOAL

If anyone can Kanon can (I've used that already) - another cool effort high past Braimah.

GOAL

Very cool from Afful - high past Barry, who went the wrong way.

GOAL

Kolo Toure steps up and... scores with a bullet of a kick. That's his last kick in international football.

GOAL

Badu just about sneaks it is. Barry got a hand to it. Not another 11-10?

GOAL

A veteran in these situations, Kalou slots into the bottom corner.

GOAL

Mensah passes this mental challenge and it's advantage Ghana in sudden death.

GOAL

This could be it... and... Yaya Toure levels. He wasn't going to miss was he?

GOAL

Andre Ayew slots his effort past Barry. Sends him the wrong way.

GOAL

Absolutely leathers it. Doumbia smashes his spot-kick past Braimah. Ivory Coast keeper Barry appears to have cramp. What next?

MISSED PENALTY

Ghana's Acheampong strikes his effort miles wide - it's turned in the space of a few kicks.

GOAL

Serge Aurier comes across as a confident fellow and strikes his spot-kick high past Braimah.

MISSED PENALTY

A lifeline for The Elephants. Barry dives to his right and saves from Acquah.

MISSED PENALTY

It's all going Pete Tong for the Ivorians. Tallo strikes his effort horribly wide.

GOAL

He didn't look confident on approach, but Jordan Ayew strokes his effort past Barry.

MISSED PENALTY

Bony's effort crashes off the bar. Wow!

GOAL

Mubarak fires past Barry. Cool as you like.

Ghana's Mubarak will take the first penalty. Boubacar Barry is ready.

PENALTIES

Now, we all remember when these two competed in a penalty shoot-out in the 1992 final? There were 24 penalties taken and 21 were scored. Ivory Coast won that day.

Who's your money on today?

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Flossy Hills: "Its like all afcon finals end in penalties, the next event, teams should start with that."

Matthew Kenyon

BBC Sport in Bata

"They were simply too nervous about losing this final from a mistake and neither side went for it. It was cagey."

PENALTIES

That's right spot-kick fans.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Gadji Tallo is on for Gervinho and Emmanuel Agyemang is on for Asamoah Gyan. Cripes! Big changes by the coaches.

Let's not beat about the bush - Ivory Coast have disappointed today. Ghana deserve this on points.

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Cafc: Has there been a worse major final than this? I'm struggling to think of one. Any suggestions?

Three minutes until penners.

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"Since going to Germany, Salomon Kalou has looked every bit the player who sometimes lit up the Premier League at Chelsea. He is the type if player who could just grab something from nothing and I think he is definitely the player to make an impact."

SUBSTITUTIONS

Ivory Coast bring on Salomon Kalou for Siaka Tiene, while Ghana's Frank Acheampong is on for Christian Atsu.

Ghana's Asamoah Gyan fancies this free-kick from 30 yards, but takes out Ivory Coast's Eric Bailly with his effort, who has already been on the deck in this match.

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Chris Phethean: I feel this game could well still be 0-0 even after penalties...

Ghost Goal: At this stage I would prefer drawing of lots on the pitch to penalties.

Jordan Ayew, who hasn't been on long, almost gets his shot away only to be denied by Kolo Toure after brother Yaya's error landed Ivory Coast in trouble.

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Mungo Russell: City fans better hope Yaya doesn't bring this form back to the Etihad, or the title's won already.

Matthew Kenyon

BBC Sport in Bata

"That is the first time I have heard the Ghana fans get involved and engaged in this game and we have had 107 minutes of action. That was a great opportunity for Ghana, although the set-piece afterwards was disappointing."

Good Ivorian blocking, ends with 'block of the match' by Eric Bailly to deny Asamoah Gyan from 20 yards. The resulting corner comes to nothing.

We are back under way.

EXTRA-TIME HALF-TIME

No more needs to be said. I'm guessing coaches Herve Renard and Avram Grant are drawing up their penalty-takers list.

AFP

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"That corner really summed up Yaya Toure in this final, although it is not just him it is everyone else too."

But yet again Yaya Toure finds the Ghana keeper Razak Braimah. Now Ghana have a free-kick at the other end.

Ivory Coast having a nice little silver spell, not quite golden. They have a corner...

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Festus Abrah-Yeboah: Come Dede Ayew, u need to score to win the Golden Boot.

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"The Ghana fans have been very critical of Jordan Ayew at this tournament. He didn't exactly silence his critics with that penalty in the semi-final because he didn't do too much otherwise, but he will be their hero if he scores in extra-time."

GHANA SUBSTITUTION

Kwasi Appiah will not have to take a penalty, but Jordan Ayew might - the Lorient player comes on.

Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure hasn't had the best of games - he must be dreaming of being back in east Manchester. He's just overplayed a simple pass for Serge Aurier.

Get ready...

Getty Images

Ghana's attack appear to have more juice in the tank than Ivory Coast's, who have disappointed so far.

Ghana's Christian Atsu - one of the better performers inside the Estadio de Bata - tries something spectacular at the edge of the area, but gets his bearings a little wrong.

EXTRA TIME

Here we go - another 30 minutes.

Both Ivory Coast captain Yaya Toure and Ghana skipper Asamoah Gyan looked like they're weren't too bothered which direction they wanted to run towards at the coin toss. Pele's gone AWOL by the way. He'll be back for extra-time, surely.

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CP: Looks like it's gonna be 1992 all over again.

Keith Webster: Worst game of football, thought the point was some team wants to win.

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"Because it is a final I think there is every reason to expect we are going to see a goal before the end of extra-time. There will be changes, disruptions and fatigue and all of that could lead to mistakes and that could lead to goals."

FULL-TIME

We are going into extra-time.

AFP

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"It is the two goalkeepers who look the most likely to cause problems for their team. The defences have been excellent but both keepers have had a couple of fluttery moments."

I almost jumped out of my seat. Almost. Serge Aurier fires in a low cross, keeper Razak Braimah gets his hands to it and Ghana somehow clear it before Doumbia Seydou can pounce. We have three minutes of stoppage.

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Chris Painter: If Yaya Toure played like this for Man City, they'd ship him out to the Championship on loan.

Wakasu Mubarak takes it and... it takes two deflections before going out of play. That must mean a goal-kick- which is precisely what the Gambia referee declared.

Ghana have a free-kick less than 25 yards from goal. Time to be a hero...

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Wale Ibraheem: Time is running out for this Golden generation of Ivorian players. It will be a shame if they fail win this tournament.

AFP

Matthew Kenyon

BBC Sport in Bata

"They all looked quite stern in the dignitaries box, I wouldn't say bored, that would be hash, but they didn't really look very involved in the game, but then I don't really think anyone is."

They've just shown a shot of Pele, who looks a little bored, and Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who has a rigid smile.

Wilfried Bony, who has been very quiet in this match, puts Evian defender Jonathan Mensah under pressure as a cross comes into the Ghana area. It should have been a corner, but isn't.

Ivory Coast full-back Serge Aurier finally manages to deliver the ball into the area, but couldn't find a team-mate. There are 10 minutes remaining.

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Thomas Dolfi: Ivory Coast need to realise it's up to them to take the game to Ghana! No forward initiative being shown; Elephants are risking.

Siaka Tiene floats it into the area forcing Ghana keeper Razak Braimah to come out to punch it clear. Dangerous.

Yaya Toure wins a free-kick for Ivory Coast about 25 yards from goal and on the right of the area.

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport

"Every time you have a successful attack, if you don't convert it you leave yourself vulnerable at the other end. These two teams are breaking remarkably quickly but that is why the tempo has been like it has been, so that they are not giving away these opportunities to break like that."

Christian Atsu bursts down the right and almost squares the ball to the feet of Asamoah Gyan, but instead it is played behind the ex-Sunderland striker. As predicted, it is picking up with 20 minutes of normal time remaining.

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David Gibbon: Yaya Toure needs to realise he's the main man here! Ala Steve Gerrard!!!

CLOSE!

Afriyie Acquah takes charge and floats - no pun intended - his kick on to the head of John Boye, who nods the ball less than a foot wide.

Ghana have another free-kick from a deep position....

Matthew Kenyon

BBC Sport in Bata

"This will be very interesting to see how Doumbia gets on. He was a prolific scorer for CSKA Moscow, he is a more powerful player than Max Gradel and we will see if that makes a difference in attack."

SUBSTITUTION

Ex-Leeds player Max Gradel is coming off and forward Doumbia Seydou of Roma is coming on.

We have an imminent Ivory Coast substitution coming up.

After all that mini-drama, Ivory Coast have a corner at the other end. And par for the course, Yaya Toure curls his kick into the hands of Razak Braimah.

AFP

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Alex Haworth: Someone let me know when the penalty shootout is about to start. I'll watch that.

Matthew Kenyon

BBC Sport in Bata

"John Boye has got away with that, very much so. If the referee had seen that he would have been sent off."

Now then. Ghana's John Boye appeared to headbutt Eric Bailly - the referee told Bailly to get up.

Ivory Coast mount a semi-attack. Right-back Serge Aurier, who has been somewhat absent, finds space down the flank but fails to breach the box with his cross. Poor.

BBC World Service journalist Farayi Mungazi: It's more about avoiding mistakes than creating a match-winning move for both teams at the moment.

A fast break from Ghana sees Christian Atsu find Asamoah Gyan, who blazes his shot over the bar from 20 yards. He should have done better, but at least the Black Stars have started the second half on the front foot.

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Demidinho: If the transfer window was still open, I'd tell my scout to not bother compiling stats on Yaya Toure. Been absolutely dire

It doesn't even beat the first man at the near post. Parma midfielder Afriye Acquah then launches the ball into the Bata night sky - unintentionally.

Ghana win a corner - their first of the game,

Ivory Coast's Gervinho tries to wriggle his way into the area, but is prevented from doing so. The Roma winger was a strong presence in the second half of the semi-final against DR Congo. Let's see what he can over the few minutes...

Getty Images

KICK-OFF

We are back under way.

The teams are coming back out. At the same time. Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard is smiling - his gnashers as white as his crisp shirt.

Ready?

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"If Ghana continue to defend like they have then player of the tournament must surely go to one of their defenders. Their goalkeeper has had next to nothing to do all tournament."

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Reuters

This Ivory Coast fan sums up how quite a few of us feel at the moment. What do you think will happen in the second half?

Use #bbcafcon2015 or go to BBC Sport's Facebook page.

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James Earl Kiawoin: A game of anonymity: Toure, Bony, Gyan all missing in action.

Cyprian Kaluma: I hope Ghana wins this for Gyan. A true fighter who never gives up.

Matthew Kenyon

BBC Sport in Bata

"A very low key first half, we knew it might be like this and at the moment I fancy penalties all the way. There has been just one moment of excitement in a rather dull 45 minutes of the Africa Cup of Nations final."

HALF-TIME

Reuters

There you go. Ivory Coast began well, then Ghana had a spell - then both teams took a break for the final 15 minutes of the half. Has the look of penalties at the moment, doesn't it? They had 21 back in the 1992 final.

INJURY TIME

One added minute.

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"I think the rain coming down can only be the result of one neutral in the stadium saying 'this can't get any worse'."

It is a hot evening in Estadio de Bata, so it's not been a high-intensity workout from either team as yet. We've seen at this tournament teams go up the gears in the final 20 minutes. It's also raining now.

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XP: Ghana is a strong team. But i see the Ivorians taking this by a 1 goal to nil, after the end of 120mins

Ulrich Amoussou: I don't see Ivory Coast defence holding Atsu

Reuters

It is swung in, but collected by Boubacar Barry - aged 35 - he's in goal instead of Sylvain Gbohouo, who has a thigh injury.

Ghana forward Andre Ayew steals into the area on the left, but his attempted cross for Asamoah Gyan comes off the near post.

The Black Stars are shining brightly. They have a free-kick...

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obasi chidi: Today will determine who the crown fit in Africa,winner takes it all, loser stands small

Quoting a bit of Abba there obasi?

AFP

That's another effort on goal from Ivory Coast. It actually came off Ghana's Harrison Afful, whose clearance sliced off his leg and flew into the hands of his team-mate Razak Braimah - I'd like to see Dynamo try that trick.

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"I think we have been a bit unlucky because the two or three times we have the possibility of this game kicking on and becoming exciting it comes immediately before an injury and that stops play and we have to start again."

He got that all wrong. Wilfried Kanon plays the ball to Manchester City's Wilfried Bony, who turns brilliantly on the edge of the area, but scuffs his shot.

That's a 6.0 for artistic value, but 4.8 for technical merit.

At the moment Ghana have 57% of the possession - they are looking a lot more settled. But you can tell The Elephants are holding back for a swift counter...

Great to hear from Festus.

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"That was an amazing effort. He is very, very capable from those positions and on this occasion he was very unlucky."

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Festus Abrah-Yeboah: Grant's misfortunes occurred in Europe; this is the African Cup of Nations. The story will be different!

AP

HITS THE WOODWORK!

More like smashes the woodwork. Everton's on loan player from Chelsea, Christian Atsu, lets fly from 25 yards and sees his effort crash off the keeper's left-hand post.

Ghana on the attack. Christian Atsu brilliantly brings down a ball into the area before he is brilliantly pickpocketed by Eric Bailly. That will hearten the Black Stars support.

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Mamadi Sirleaf: Serge Aurier is a player to watch, his pace and eye linking passes from the right will be a constant threat to the Ghanaians.

Just had an email from my BBC colleague Nick Cavell, who has been covering the tournament out in Equatorial Guinea.

He says the national TV station are not showing the final - "they had a replay of the hosts v Burkina Faso and have now switched to a music programme".

Matthew Kenyon

BBC Sport in Bata

"Ghana simply gave the ball away and it fell right to Gervinho, he spotted Gradel but his shot was always falling away from the far post, but a nervous moment in the Ghana defence."

AFP

CLOSE!

Former Leeds player Max Gradel is inches away from giving Ivory Coast the lead as his humdinger of an effort from 18 yards flies over the bar.

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"That looked very painful indeed. Someone would call that a reducer, but they did not reduce him too much because he took the free-kick."

It's Yaya Toure again involved in the next attack. His free-kick from 25 yard curls over the wall but is well held by Razak Braimah in the Ghana goal. Moments later, Ivorian Serey Die catches Mubarak Wakaso in very much the 'central Africa region'. That could have been deemed a red card offence.

Ivory Coast captain Yaya Toure stumbles on the edge of the area under a challenge, before falling in the area. Nothing in it says Gambia ref Bakary Papa Gassama. But again, The Elephants threaten.

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@lukevenn11

Luke Venn: Like the postman I always deliver.

Earlier today Luke tweeted in to let our colleagues on the Premier League football live page all about his plans for a Ghanaian feast this evening. The boy's done good.

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Ivory Coast have dominated this opening period. They have such a strong and pacy attack. Ghana need to get the ball to Andre Ayew and Asamoah Gyan - it will be interesting to see how fit Gyan is after his abdominal injury.

Getty Images

Matthew Kenyon

BBC Sport in Bata

"Gervinho looks like he is up for this game, it looks like he will be that influential player he was in the group stages."

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Feyera Aga Hirpa: The clash of the two best teams of the continent, this is African Cup of Nations Final! Bring it on

Ivory Coast winger/forward Gervinho seems to have one thing on his mind tonight - get the ball and run. He just breezed past two Ghana players before John Boye stole the ball from him. No Waltons jokes tonight.

Steve Crossman

BBC Sport in Bata

"Not one of these Black Stars players were born when Ghana were last crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions. Avram Grant is going to need to rectify a rotten record in finals if he is to lead them to victory."

KICK-OFF

Here we go. Ivory Coast get us under way.

BBC meets The Elephant Man

BBC

What's going on here? You've just about got time to find out from BBC World Service reporter Piers Edwards who met the man under the white trunk.

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Peter Mesias Kambala: Renard is used to winning finals, Avram Grant is not- he's probably the only one who won't be hurt if Ghana lose this final.

The anthems

The anthems are being blasted out. First is the Ivory Coast anthem "L'Abidjanaise", followed by Ghana's "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana".

Glass half empty

Now looking about Estadio de Bata - it doesn't look very full. There is the fact that Equatorial Guinea were a late replacements as hosts after Morocco were ditched because of their worries over Ebola. Hmmm...

Teams are out

Kwesi Appiah

Kwesi Appiah

The teams are coming out on to the pitch...

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Thomas Dolfi: "I fancy Ghana to pull a fast one over the fancied Ivory Coast tonight! The Elephants will be ambushed by their opponents' pace.

Tournament top scorers

Getty Images

We are a little more than 10 minutes away from kick-off. One of these guys could walk away with the Cup of Nations Golden Boot? Who has impressed you? #bbcafcon2015

Piers Edwards

BBC Africa sport

BBC

"More security personnel than fans at Estadio de Bata earlier this afternoon. Equatorial Guinea/CAF intent on avoiding Thursday's scenes."

Kanoute on the finalists

Getty Images

Back to the action coming up, BBC World Service caught up with former Mali and West Ham forward Frederic Kanoute, who believes the best two teams of the competition are contesting the final:

"I would add maybe Algeria, they had a tough group so anyone of that Algerian group could go through. Ghana deserved to go through - they were very serious all the way. And of course Ivory Coast got stronger and stronger as the tournament went along so I think we have the best two teams in the end."

Closing ceremony

By the way we've had an closing ceremony. Here are a few photos:

Getty Images

AP

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Lowdown on the Black Stars

Getty Images

I'm really not sure how Ghana fans would feel if they once again failed to land the big prize. It has been 33 years - THIRTY-THREE YEARS - since they last won Afcon.

Since then they've managed two runners-up spots and a four semi-finals. Their coach Avram Grant - ex of Chelsea - knows a thing or two about losing in a major fi...

Anyway, here he is:

"They are very motivated, they do not need any speeches because we have come a long way as nobody gave us a chance. They will show this on Sunday.

"We have improved with every game. Algeria and Senegal were considered better than us and this was a challenge for us.

"There is one more challenge -- the last one in this tournament."

Tournament statistics

Caf

The tournament statistics so far for Ivory Coast (left) and Ghana, courtesy of organisers Caf

Lowdown on The Elephants

AP

Herve Renard in a white shirt

The Ivorians are odds-on favourites to win the final. In the last five tournaments, they have managed two runners-up finishes and a fourth.

Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Wilfried Bony and Max Gradel have all impressed, while right-back Serge Aurier looks a threat when he goes forward.

They eased past DR Congo in the semi-final, with Toure scoring arguably the goal of the tournament - a 20-yard thunderbolt.

Their coach is Herve Renard, a man rarely out of a white cotton shirt who once manager Cambridge United. I think that's the second mention of Cambridge United in this live text.

Here's our Herve:

"I'm sure Yaya will play a decisive game. He will arrive in time. You saw he scored a fantastic goal in the semi-final and that was not by chance.

"When you are fantastic player, these key important games are for you. They are always ready. For them there is no added pressure. The adrenalin of the competition is making all the difference."

Getty Images

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BBC reporter Oluwashina Okeleji: Ghana have reached their NINTH AFCON final, more than any other team. They have won 4 tournaments & finish runners-up 4 times.

'You've got Cumberbatch, we've got Pele'

Pele

That's right. You can keep your Baftas, the Africa Cup of Nations has delivered Pele. The original one, not the "Desert Pele".

Security increased in Bata

EPA

We are back in Estadio de Bata - days after another stadium, Malabo witnessed awful scenes during Thursday's semi-final between hosts Equatorial Guinea and Ghana.

The match was disrupted by supporters throwing water bottles on to the pitch, which led to a suspension of play for more than 30 minutes as riot police, with the help of a helicopter, tried to quell the unrest in the stands.

Security has been increased for the final to avoid a repeat of Thursday, with the announcement coming hours after Africa football chief Issa Hayatou and Fifa president Sepp Blatter criticised the reporting of the events by some media outlets.

In the words of former Catchphrase presenter Roy Walker, "say what you see".

TEAM NEWS

Ivory Coast replace the injured Sylvain Gbohouo with veteran Boubacar Barry in goal. Yaya Toure captains the team, which features forwards Gervinho and Wilfried Bony.

Ghana skipper Asamoah Gyan returns from an abdominal injury and replaces Jordan Ayew. The former Sunderland player will partner Cambridge United's on-loan striker Kwesi Appiah in attack.

Ivory Coast XI: Barry, Kolo Toure, Tiene, Gervinho, Bony, Gradel, Aurier, Yaya Toure, Gonzaroua Die, Bailly, Kanon.

Ghana XI: Brimah, Afful, Rahman, Mensah, Boye, Wakaso, Acquah, Ayew, Atsu, Gyan, Appiah.

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It is the final many wanted to see, including #bbcafcon2015 contributor Festus Abrah-Yeboah.

Festus Abrah-Yeboah

That final ended with Ivory Coast winning 11-10 on penalties - the last time The Elephants triumphed in the competition.

So can Manchester City's midfield juggernaut Yaya Toure lead his men to their first Afcon title in 23 years?

Or will Ghana, featuring the Andre Ayew and captain Asamoah Gyan hand the Black Stars their fifth crown and first since 1982?

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It started at a slow pace...

Getty Images

Brightened up by fans, including this one with paint on his face...

CAF

Marred by scenes of disgrace...

Reuters

It's time for the last leg of the race: Africa Cup of Nations final, Ivory Coast v Ghana, 19:00 GMT

AP