Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Ivory Coast and Zambia's African Cup of Nations final - kicking off at 7.30 UK time.

The African Cup of Nations final is underway!

National anthems time... Note to the people who don't know where Zambia is - the hint is in that they speak English, and that many of their players play or have played in South Africa... The Z helps too...

Francois Zahoui: "I’m lucky to have these talented and experienced players having participated in the last three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. I can see determination in their eyes. They want to lift to the trophy. It will be a balanced final and we will play only to win. It’s the same story with Zambia but I know how to tackle them. This Ivorian generation has failed several times and now they have the chance to win the trophy."

Herve Renard: "With our determination, we are scared of nobody but we have lots of respect for Ivory Coast. We know the quality of the players and what they are capable of. We are in front of a mountain but we've got so much determination that we are not afraid of reaching the summit."

Fan predictions: @incakolanews: "Drog 2, Rest 0"; @thegavmeister: "Cracking final ahead with Zambia springing another surprise. 2:1 to Zambia after Zambia go 2 goals up"; @MetallicIon: "I am in for Zambia"

Right let's have your predictions for this clash - I am going with a nervy 1-0 to Ivory Coast, but am refusing to discount the Chipolopolo. Let me know on Twitter @Reda_Eurosport.

If you want to contact me about this clash, Drogba's interview, the Nations Cup as a whole or African football in general, tweet me @Reda_Eurosport.

Our mate Gary Al-Smith spoke to Didier Drogba earlier on about his fear of failure with Ivory Coast. Gary is in the stadium and is marvelling at the $1m closing ceremony. Follow him on Twitter @garyalsmith, and read his interview with Drogba on our site

MATCH ODDS: Zambia 13/2, Ivory Coast 4/7, Draw 14/5

This will be Zambia's third Africa Cup of Nations final appearance. They have lost both of these games - in 1974 they lost to Zaire in Egypt in a replay, before suffering a 1-2 defeat to Nigeria in 1994.

Both of the previous Africa Cup of Nations finals that Ivory Coast have reached (1992 & 2006) have ended 0-0 and gone to penalties, of which they have won one (1992) and lost one (2006).

Ivory Coast are yet to concede a goal in this year’s tournament and have equalled their best run of five clean sheets in a row in one tournament - a run that saw them win the competition in 1992 (there were only a maximum of five games that year).

Three players - Zambia duo Emmanuel Mayuka and Chris Katongo and Ivorian captain Didier Drogba - are all level at the top of the tournament scoring charts with three goals each.

Referee: Badara Diatta (Senegal)

Shock finallists Zambia make two changes from the team that stunned Ghana in the last four: Emmanuel Mayuka, who scored the winner after coming on as a sub, is rewarded with a start, as is Chisamba Lungu, who also impressed from the bench. James Chamanga and Francis Kasonge - who they replaced against Ghana - make way.

With no injuries or suspensions for Ivory Coast it's the same XI that beat Mali 1-0 in the semis. Eboue has to sit on the bench as the in-form Gosso starts at right-back, while the Drogba-Kalou-Gervinho triple-header continues. The midfield of Tiote, Yaya and Zokora is powerful and classy - defensively and in goal they are less formidable but they have been playing well as a unit, yet to concede in these finals.

TEAMS - Ivory Coast: Barry, Tiene, Kolo Toure, Bamba, Gosso, Zokora, Tiote, Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Kalou, Drogba; Subs: Yeboah, Boka, Doumbia, Bony, Konan, Coulibaly, Gradel, Keita, Lolo, Eboue, Gnanahouan /// Zambia: Mweene, Musonda, Sunzu, Himoonde, Nkausu, Sinkala, Lungu, Chansa, C.Katongo, Kalaba, Mayuka; Subs: Kalililo, Kasonde, Mbesuma, F.Katongo, Chamanga, Chivuta, Chintu, Kangwa, Sakuwaha, Mulenga, Titima