Ivory Coast win 2015 African Cup of Nations

Boubacar Barry scored the winning goal for Ivory Coast as they beat Ghana 9-8 on penalties in the final of the African Cup of Nations.

There were as many potential goals as there were sending-offs in the first half. Serey Die should have been sent off for his first reckless tackle on Wakaso Mubarak, and later escaped a second yellow, and Asamoah Gyan went unpunished for treading on Eric Bailly's foot.

Both sides had chances. Max Gradel sent a rising shot just wide of the goal for Ivory Coast, and Christian Atsu and Andre Ayew both hit the woodwork for Ghana.

In the second half, John Boye and Bailly clashed heads, and Boye should have been sent off but the referee again gave no red card. The rest of the match passed with neither time especially threatening, with extra time uneventful.

The match then went to penalties, and after Barry claimed to be injured halfway through the shootout, and then before his own spot kick, he converted to win the tournament for the Ivory Coast.

14' - DIE TACKLE - Yaya Toure connects well with his effort, but Brimah Razak is able to get across to save. A few seconds later, Wakaso is caught in the midriff by Die, who is booked. It should have been red.

16' - GRADEL SHOT - Gervinho slides a pass right for Gradel after Baba Rahman passes to nobody, and he fires his shot just wide.

22' - GYAN FOUL - Bailly is down after getting a whack from Gyan - Gyan treads on his foot. He escapes any punishment.

25' - ATSU HITS THE BAR - Atsu lets fly with an excellent shot from distance. He beats Boubacar Barry for pace and the shot slams off the post and away.

36' - AYEW SHOT - Ayew swings his whole body at the ball to connect with a shot from a tight angle, and his shot crashes off the post and behind.

59' - RUBBISH VIOLENCE - Boye and Bailly headbutt one another faintly, Bailly getting the worst of it, and he falls to the ground.

69' - BOYE HEADER - Wakaso heads a free kick across goal and Boye glances his effort wide.

PENALTY 21 (!) - Brimah's penalty is saved by Barry. Diving to his left the keeper pushes the effort away. 8-8.

PENALTY 22 (!!) - Barry takes his penalty, and he scores! Barry wins it for Ivory Coast. 9-8 on penalties.

All four of Ivory Coast's AFCON finals have finished 0-0.

This is Ivory Coast's first AFCON triumph in 23 years.

Herve Renard became the first manager to win AFCON with two different nations.

Boubacar Barry spoiled a dramatic ending. There is a word for this kind of behaviour that probably cannot be published on the website. It is mildly amusing to watch at a distance, but to resort to such tedious nonsense in a penalty shoot out of such importance marks Barry out as a potential 'office joker'.

Boubacar Barry (Ivory Coast): Because of his willingness to go far too far, as described above, Barry set himself apart from those around him. His gamesmanship heaped more pressure on those facing him in the shootout, and he was able to keep his head to win.

Ivory Coast: Barry 9, Kanon 6, Toure 6, Bailly 5, Aurier 7, Die 6, Toure 6, Tiene 6, Gervinho 6, Gradel 6, Bony 6. Subs: Doumbia 6, Kalou 6, Tallo 6.

Ghana: Brimah 6, Afful 6, Rahman 6, Mensah 6, Boye 6, Wakaso 6, Acquah 5, A. Ayew 6, Atsu 7, Gyan 6, Appiah 5. Subs: J. Ayew 6, Acheampong 6, Agyemang 6.