Walter Nana Wilson, AfricaNews reporter in Buea, Cameroon
For the first time in their football history, the Zambian national football team, the Chipolopolo grabbed the final of the African Cup of Nations, AFCON. After 120 minutes of action-packed football against a very star-studded Ivorian team led by Didier Drogba, in a zero all tie, the Zambians made the difference in the penalty shoot-outs, scoring 8 as against 7 for the Ivorians.
Kolo Toure and Gervinho Yao of Ivory Coast lost their shots, while Stopila Sunzu made history for himself and Zambia, slotting in the 8th penalty for the Copper Bullets.
The result meant misery for hot favourites Ivory Coast, who failed to claim the title despite not conceding a goal throughout the entire competition until Sunday's shoot-out.
It also revived memories for Didier Drogba, who missed a penalty in the second half of normal time, and company of their 2006 penalty shoot-out final defeat to Egypt in Cairo.
Zambia, motivated by the memory of the April 27 1993 national team wiped out in a plane crash off the Libreville coast, went into the 2012 climax as outsiders.
But they covered themselves with glory, hassling and harrowing their star-studded rivals all the way to the penalty shoot-out, and then holding their nerve to prevail in the dramatic, barely watchable denouement.
Ivory Coast coach, Francois Zahoui fielded the same side that saw off Mali 1-0 in the semi-final.
His Zambian counterpart, Herve Renard, recalled striker Emmanuel Mayuka, after his starring role in getting the decisive goal in the 1-0 last four defeats over Ghana.
He joined Captain Christopher Katongo in spearheading the Chipolopolo's attack.
The game was only seconds old when Zambia almost took a shock lead, with keeper Boubacar Barry doing well to save Nathan Sinkala's close range shot off Katongo's quick pass from a Rainford Kalaba corner.
Renard was forced into an unscripted change when defender Joseph Musonda limped off in tears on 11 minutes. Nyambe Mulenga took his place.
A shaky start by Ivory Coast gave Zambia hope of an upset and Kalaba's 30m free-kick wasn't far away after taking a deflection off Cheik Tiote's leg.
The Elephants put together their best passage of play approaching the half hour mark, a neat Drogba back-heel setting up Yaya Toure only for the Manchester City midfielder's angled shot to go wide of the goal post.
A hugely promising first half from Zambia had the Elephants' defense, marshalled by Kolo Toure, under more pressure than they would have wanted, with Katongo leading from the front.
Zahoui, resembling a New York cop with black trench-coat and baseball cap, walked into the dressing rooms at halftime with a face like thunder.
And on 72 minutes one should have come after Ivory Coast were awarded a penalty when Issac Chansa and Mulenga barged into Gervinho.
Drogba stepped up but his woeful attempt went soaring into the night sky, even though he appeared to divert blame to the pitch, glaring at the spot.
This was his second miss from the spot after he had a penalty saved in the quarterfinal win over Equatorial Guinea, where he went on to score twice.
In the 95th minute, substitute Felix Katongo crossed from the right for his brother Christopher with only Barry's toe diverting the goal-bound ball off the near post.
There was high drama once the penalty shoot-outs got underway, with Kolo Toure missing the Ivorians’ seventh penalty, but Zambia's Kalaba also missing his, to leave the sides still inseparable.
Then after Gervinho failed in his attempt it was left to Stopila Sunzu, the defender who plays his club football with Tout Puissant Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to give Zambia a historic first title, and consign Ivory Coast to another wretched defeat.
For the first time in their football history, the Zambian national football team, the Chipolopolo grabbed the final of the African Cup of Nations, AFCON. After 120 minutes of action-packed football against a very star-studded Ivorian team led by Didier Drogba, in a zero all tie, the Zambians made the difference in the penalty shoot-outs, scoring 8 as against 7 for the Ivorians.
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