We bring you live updates of the historic final match of the 2015 African Cup of Nations between the Black Stars of Ghana and the Elephants of Ivory Coast. Remember Ghana is in the 33rd year of chasing the continental diadem, while the Ivorians, champions in 1992 at the expense of Ghana, are seeking a second glory after 23 years.
| Match: | AFCON 2015 finals |
| Venue: | Bata Stadium, Bata, Equatorial Guinea |
| Kick-off: | 7pm |
| Officials: | Referee : Bakary Papa Gassama ,1st assistant : Djibril Camara, 2nd assistant: Waleed Ahmed Ali , Reserve : Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos |
| Black Stars | Razak Brimah, Harrison Afful, Baba Rahman, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Mubarak Wakaso, Afriyie Acquah, Andre Ayew, Christian Atsu, Asamoah Gyan,Kwesi Appiah. |
| Elephants | Boubacar Barry, Kolo Toure, Siaka Tiene, Kouassi Yao, Wilfried Bony, Max Gradel , Serge Aurier, Yaya Toure, Die Serey, Eric Bailly, Serge Kanon. |
Black Stars inspirational Captain Asamoah Gyan returns to action for Ghana.
Closing ceremony underway to usher in the game.
Ex-Ghana international Sammy Kufuor predicts a one-nil win for Ghana and tips Dede Ayew to be the goal scorer.
All set for the game and the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, accompanied by Issa Hayatou and Sepp Blatter, steps onto the field to shake hands with the players ahead of national anthems. Asamoah Gyan is first to shake his hands.
Ivory Coast national anthem plays first followed by Ghana's national anthem.
Asamoah Gyan and Yaya Toure exchange pennants and Ghana wins toss of the coin.
7pm: Elephants kick off.
7:02 : Wakaso fouled but Gervinho’s cutting run is cut short by John Boye for Razak clearance.
7:03 Gervinho earns first corner for CI followed by another corner but both wasted.
7:05 CI appeal for penalty ignored.
7:06 Ghana settles to neat passes after initial CI pressure but Wakaso poor pass
7:08 Gradel and Rahman go into verbal exchanges
7:09 Another CI corner cleared and Yaya Toure goes to ground under no pressure
7:11 Yaya Toure falls from Wakaso tackle at the edge of the Ghana box and appeals for foul but ignored
7:13 Wakaso booked for fouling Tiene in a menacing run and Yaya Toure’s direct kick grabbed by Razak.
7:15 Serey Die booked for dangerous play
7:17 Sloppy defence by Ghana almost gave CI a goal but Gradel shot misses upright.
7:19 Ghana begin to pile pressure of their own and win but waste corner
7:21 Long ball finds Gyan in CI area but he is deprived while a long clearance finds Gervhino but floored by John Boye
7:22 Fallen Asamoah Gyan caught stamping a player but escapes punishment
7:26 Christian Atsu's shot comes off the CI post while Atsu is fouled
7:28 Asamoah Gyan ruled offside
7:30 Razak poor clearance from back pass
7:33 Harrison Afful clearance heads to his goal but easily dealt with by Razak.
7:36 Dede Ayew hits side net as he tries to finish off Baba Rahman's pass
7:38 Atsu is fouled again by Serey Die but resultant kick double saved by Boubacar Barry in goal for Ivory Coast
7:41 Baba Rahman takes on Gervhino and defends well.
7:42 Afful fouls Toure and receives verbal caution from the referee.
7:45 One minute added but no goals will be scored as Referee Bakary Papa Gassama whistles for the end of first half.
Second Half
46th: Ghana kicks off and moves straight into attack but repulsed
49th: Ghana earns first corner in the half but headed out as Afriyie Acquah balloons goal attempt
52nd: Asamoah Gyan flies Ghana's break wide off target
56th Johnathan Mensah timely intercepts pass into Ghana area, while Dede Ayew appears too slow and attracts rough play.
57th Tiene yellow carded for fouling Atsu
60th Afful timely cancels out CI goal attempt as Ivorians attempt to mount pressure. John Boye concedes corner but wasted.
63rd Ghana earns corner but poorly taken by Wakaso
67th Gradel out for Seydou Doumbia
69th John Boye heads just wide off Ivorian post
72nd Ghana breaks with speeding Atsu but final attempt blocked by Ivorian defence
75th Kwesi Appiah penalised for fouling Yaya Toure but Razak Braimah does well to punch out
85th Weariness sets in and we are looking at a possible extra time. Players go down easily at the least tackle.
87th Bailly yellow carded for fouling Gyan in front of Ivorian goal. Wakaso's shot deflected over the goal line by two Ivorians but referee rules goal kick.
90th Razak Braimah timely save as Ivorians make last-ditch attempt to score, with Jonathan Mensah booting the ball out of goal area.
The game will travel for another 3 minutes. Time added on runs out and still no goals. We go for extra time.
Extra Time
91st Extra time under and Jonathan Mensah will clear for Ghana from early Ivory Coast attempt
92nd Sandwiched Atsu tries bicycle kick but misses
94th Ghana wastes corner kick
96th Asamoah Gyan put through but ruled offside
99th Jordan Ayew on for Kwesi Appiah
102 minutes and Atsu walks with a slight limp. Chances now far between
104 Braimah makes desperate clearance from Doumbia as Black Stars defence clears poorly.
105th Bailly yellow carded for fouling Jordan Ayew but kick goes off as Atsu's attempt to connect fails. It is half time of extra time.
Half time (Extra Time)
106th Ghana kicks off and misses two shots at goal from Atsu and Wakaso. Resultant corner kick is wasted.
110th Gervinho runs deep to lay a pass but Braimah grabs well
112th Jordan wins corner for Ghana but wasted for another corner but Atsu's left footed attempt way off.
115th Kalu on for Tiene while Frank Acheampong comes on for Atsu.
120th Gyan out for Agyeman Badu for Ghana while Gervinho gives way to Gadji Tallo
It is all over and the two sides will face the shootout, a historic repetition of 1992.
Final Scores
Cote d'Ivoire wins 9:8 on penalties.
