Côte d’Ivoire lament lost opportunity

LIBREVILLE Côte dIvoire, who yet again failed to fulfil their favourites tag at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, head back to Abidjan laden down with disappointment, coach Francois Zahoui said. The top team on the continent were defeated by Zambia 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Sundays final to revive memories of their 2006 penalty shoot-out defeat to Egypt in Cairo. The Elephants had come to the 2012 edition with high hopes of atoning for further failures in 2008 and 2010. But they now head home trophyless, despite having had an opportunity to claim the title in regulation time only for captain Didier Drogba to send a second half penalty high over the bar. Zahoui said: The disappointment is enormous and its sadness which is the overwhelming sensation. We are very upset tonight. I was anticipating a difficult game, I knew it wasnt going to be a walk in the park. We didnt start well but we had occasions like the penalty to kill off the game. Then Zambia began to believe. Thats football. Zambia were driven by their desire to honour the national team wiped out in a 1993 plane crash off the Libreville coast, but Zahoui insisted his side too were hungry to win the title for only the second time after 1992. The Zambians had a history but we also wanted to win this Cup. We wanted to claim the title because of the difficult situation in the Côte dIvoire.Asked if this was the end of Didier Drogbas so-called golden generation Zahoui said: Off the cuff we cant make a decision like that. The players produced a lot of effort, they gave their all. This generation went close in 2006. Well have to reflect on whats happened. Were going to return to Abidjan and reflect on things. We have to bring in fresh blood but well see about all that with the Federation and take the right decision. Chelsea star Salomon Kalou reckoned the Elephants lacked experience in certain areas. We created chances but luck wasnt on our side, he said. That said, not to concede a goal in the whole competition is some feat. The penalty shoot-out is a lottery”.

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Côte d’Ivoire lament lost opportunity