Emmanuel Mayuka came off the bench to send Zambia into the African Nations Cup final after his 78th-minute goal secured a shock 1-0 win over Ghana in their semifinal on Wednesday.
The game could have turned out very differently had Asamoah Gyan not missed an eighth-minute penalty for four-times champions and favourites Ghana.
Ghana dominated the game but struggled to create chances in front of another empty stadium, a sad hallmark of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, on a wet and steamy evening in Bata.
Mayuka, the only member of the Zambian squad playing for a European first division club, scored out of the blue with a shot on the turn. Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng was sent off six minutes from time after a second yellow card.
Teams:
Ghana: 16-Adam Kwarasey; 7-Samuel Inkoom, 21-John Boye,
5-John Mensah, 17-Lee Addy; 6-Anthony Annan, 9-Derek Boateng,
10-Dede Ayew, 20-Kwadwo Asamoah; 13-Jordan Ayew, 3-Asamoah Gyan
Zambia: 16-Kennedy Mweene; 4-Joseph Musonda, 13-Stoppila
Sunzu, 5-Hichani Himoonde, 6-Davies Nkausu; 19-Nathan Sinkala,
2-Francis Kasonde, 8-Isaac Chansa, 11-Chris Katongo, 17-Rainford
Kalaba; 12-James Chamanga.
Referee: Mohamed Benouza (Morocco)
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