Zambia is celebrating winning a first Africa Cup of Nations title after beating tournament favourites Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties on Sunday.

Zambia have been runners-up twice and have been inspired throughout the tournament by the loss of the 1993 Chipolopolo team after a plane crash close to the venue of the final in Libreville.

The last time the southern African country reached the final in 1994, it was just a year after 18 Zambian team members died as they took off from the Gabonese capital.

On Sunday, after 14 kicks were converted, Kolo Toure and Gervinho failed to find the target for the Ivorians as Zambia's Rainford Kalaba also blazed over.

Stoppila Sunzu converted the winning penalty, finding the top corner to complete an unlikely victory.

Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba missed a 70th-minute penalty to deny his team victory inside 90 minutes.

Image: Getty