LIBREVILLE, Gabon -- Zambia won the African Cup of Nations Sunday, beating pre-tournament favourite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a nerve-racking final at Stade de lAmitie. cheap jerseys china . Stophira Sunzu scored the deciding sudden-death penalty after Gervinho missed his spot kick for Ivory Coast. Its Zambias first African title and came, poignantly, in the same city where nearly the entire national team was killed in a plane crash in 1993 in the countrys worst sporting disaster. Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba had missed a 70th-minute penalty for the title favourite to send the dramatic decider to extra time and then a shootout. After both sides made their first seven penalties, Ivory Coasts Kolo Toure had given Zambia a first chance at victory when his effort was saved. But Kalaba Rainford sent his effort high over the crossbar to give the Ivorians renewed hope. But Gervinho faltered as well as the Arsenal winger missed the target, and Sunzu made no mistake when it was his turn, drilling his penalty to the right of Boubacar Barry for the title-clinching moment. He raced toward the teams fans behind the goal to celebrate a highly emotional victory for the Zambians, who had pledged to return to Libreville and win their first major trophy to honour the 25 people who died in that plane crash nearly two decades ago. The Gabonese fans were also won over, chanting "Chipolopolo," the Zambian teams nickname, at the end. Drogba hit his regular-time penalty over the crossbar after Gervinho was fouled, and then looked up at the sky in frustration. Even though the Chelsea striker scored in the shootout, Ivory Coast failed to end a 20-year wait for a second African title despite being the continents top-ranked team. It was the Ivorians first loss in six games at this tournament. Zambia captain Christopher Katongo hit the post in the opening five minutes of extra time but the underdogs were hanging on at the end, as Max Gradel sent a shot agonizingly wide in the 88th for Ivory Coast. Emmanuel Mayuka was denied a goalscoring opportunity for Zambia by Kolo Toures desperate tackle with the forward clear on goal in a frenzied finish to the 90 minutes. In the first half, Zambias players appeared determined to entertain the fans at Stade de lAmitie, trying backheels and tricks in freeflowing, almost carefree style. Nathan Sinkala should have had Zambia ahead early as a slick move from a corner opened a chance for him in just the second minute, but his scuffed shot was saved by Boubacar Barry. Musonda tried to shrug off an early injury in what was meant to be a memorable 100th cap for him, but he couldnt continue. The veteran defender was in tears as he left the field in the 11th minute and was consoled by teammates and opponent Drogba. Zambia kept pushing forward, with Emmanuel Mayuka sending a looping header onto the roof of the net in the 14th and Rainford Kalabas deflected free kick flying just wide of the right post. The Ivorians began to find their feet as the half progressed, and Drogba set up Yaya Toure with a classy backheel. The midfielder pulled his right-footed shot wide by inches from in front of goal with keeper Kennedy Mweene rooted to the spot and beaten. Zambia coach Herve Renards intensity boiled over as he pushed his own defender Davies Nkausu as he shouted instructions to him on the sidelines. Nkausu nodded and agreed with his coachs forceful directions, patting the intense Frenchman on the shoulder. Gervinho continued to trouble Zambia down his right wing as the second half began quietly before Katongo suddenly lifted the Zambians -- and the crowd -- with a weaving run. Ivory Coasts strong defence held firm after a series of corners. cheap nfl jerseys . Louis Cardinals in todays finale of a three-game set at Busch Stadium. Milwaukees Yovani Gallardo came into yesterdays start with an 8.89 earned run average over his past 26 1/3 innings, but carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and ended up allowing just one hit over eight frames in a 4-0 victory. nfl cheap jerseys . At the bottom of the page the final score read "100-95" - Torontos third loss in four games - but it was how they got there that had the Raptors young centre shaking his head as he destroyed the evidence. ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals are replacing a manager whos third on the career victory list with a man wholl be writing his first lineup card on opening day. Mike Matheny, a former catcher with the Cardinals who had been a minor league instructor, will be introduced as Tony La Russas successor at a news conference Monday. "I think hes going to be a great leader," Jim Edmonds, a teammate of Mathenys with the Cardinals, said Sunday night in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "If he goes out there and does what hes capable of doing and they put the players around him, he could be the manager for the next 20 years." The 40-year-old Matheny played for St. Louis from 2000-04 and won three of his four Gold Gloves. He became a team leader playing for La Russa, who retired after leading the team to his second World Series title in 16 seasons. Mathenys playing career blossomed after he signed a one-year free-agent deal to be the backup catcher in St. Louis. Though a career .239 hitter, Matheny did enough defensively to earn a starting job. Matheny was one of six men the Cardinals interviewed to replace La Russa. They also talked to Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, longtime Cardinals third-base coach Jose Oquendo, former Boston manager Terry Francona, triple-A manager Chris Maloney, and Chicago White Sox coach Joe McEwing. General manager John Mozeliak declined to comment on the hire aside from a one-word text to The Associated Press: "Tomorrow." Francona was the only candidate whoo had major league managing experience.dddddddddddd He left the Red Sox after the team collapsed in September. Oquendo coached for La Russa the last dozen years after playing the final decade of his career with the Cardinals and has had a handful of interviews for managing openings. The Cardinals received permission to interview Sandberg, manager of the Phillies triple-A team. Former Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan, who played for La Russa and is on local sports talk radio, thought the Cardinals would go with Francona because it gave them the best chance to retain momentum from their unlikely World Series run. The Cardinals won the NL wild card on the final day of the season and were underdogs against the Phillies, Brewers and Rangers, but have a solid returning cast with or without free agent Albert Pujols in the fold. "I think Matheny will be a great manager, given time," Duncan said. "He lacks managing experience, but it shows a lot about his character that the Cardinals hired him." Matheny was with the Giants when his career was ended by concussions in 2006. "Hes a great leader, and an even better person," Edmonds said. "I think this is great. Theres nobody thats going to work any harder than Mike." Mathenys coaching staff could include some familiar names. Pitching coach Dave Duncan, who was La Russas right hand all 33 seasons, has one year remaining on his contract. The Cardinals have considered promoting Maloney in recent years, and Oquendo also could stay. ' ' '
