Zambia book emotional return to Libreville

Emmanuel Mayuka’s second-half strike fired Zambia through to the Nations final against Ivory Coast as they upset 10-man Ghana in Bata last night.

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan was made to rue his seventh-minute penalty miss, and a host of other chances, as unfancied Zambia reached the final for the first time in 18 years.

Substitute Mayuka curled home his winner from the edge of the area with 12 minutes left and Ghana’s hopes of a comeback faded with the dismissal of Derek Boateng soon after.

That match is set to provide an emotional stage for the Zambians. Libreville was the city a plane carrying the Zambian national side refuelled in before crashing in the Atlantic in 1993, killing all 30 people on board.

The Copper Bullets looked certain to go behind early in yesterday’s match when Davis Nkausu tripped Kwadwo Asamoah in the area to concede an early penalty. Gyan wasted the opportunity, though, as Kennedy Mweene dived to his left.

Mayuka proved his side’s match-winner with time ticking down in the game when he turned and perfectly placed his shot beyond a diving Adam Larsen.

Ghana then had Boateng sent off for a second caution with six minutes to go.

ZAMBIA: Mweene, Musonda, Sunzu, Himonde, Nkausu, Kasonde (Lungu 66), Sinkala, Chansa, Kalaba, Christopher Katongo, Chamanga (Mayuka 46).

GHANA: Larsen, Inkoom, Boye, John Mensah (Vorsah 72), Addy, Annan, Boateng, Andre Ayew (Muntari 86), Asamoah, Jordan Ayew, Gyan (Tagoe 74).

Ref: Mohamed Benouza (Algeria).