Zambia caused a major upset when they beat Ghana 1-0 in Bata on Wednesday to advance to the final of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Chipolopolo will be appearing in their first continental final since they lost the 1994 decider to Nigeria, and few will argue that they do not deserve it for their thrilling play right through this tournament.
They rode their luck against Ghana, who missed an early penalty through Asamoah Gyan, but a lone goal from substitute Emmanuel Mayuka late in the second half proved decisive for the southern Africans.
The star-studded Black Stars came into the match as favourites but two of their key men, defender Jonathan Mensah and striker Gyan, were not 100 percent fit and it showed later in the game. The side also finished the match with 10 men after Derek Boateng received his marching orders.
Gyan should have put his side ahead on seven minutes when he saw his spot kick saved by Zambian goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene after Davies Nkausu had fouled Kwadwo Asamoah.
Mweene again saved from Gyan soon afterwards, this time from open play, while the striker then scuffed his shot from a brilliant lay-off by Andre Ayew as chances mounted for the Ghanains.
Perhaps the best opportunity of the half fell to Jordan Ayew, who found himself eight yards out with not a defender in sight from brother Andre's free-kick, but completely missed the ball when it seemed all he had to do was side-foot home.
Zambia's best chance of the half fell to Chris Katongo, who was played in on goal by Rainford Kalaba, but his shot from 10 yards went wide with just Adam Kwarasey in the Ghana goal to beat.
Mayuka came on for the ineffective James Chamanga at halftime and his extra pace started to give Ghana problems, though the Black Stars continued to have much of the play.
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Jordan Ayew forced a smart save from Mweene low to his left, while Gyan shot wide and then had a free header from a Mweene mistake that he could not direct on target.
Mensah and Gyan left the pitch within minutes of each other as it became clear they were not up to the pace of the game, and just minutes after that Zambia were ahead.
Mayuka collected the ball on the edge of the area and the Ghana defence stood off him long enough for him to pick his spot and curl a side-footed shot past a helpless Kwarasey to give Chipolopolo the lead.
Boateng received his red card six minutes from time after a cynical block on Kalaba that produced a second yellow of the game for him. By that time it looked as though Ghana had no more fight.
Zambia saw out the remaining minutes fairly comfortably. After they final whistle, they appeared to do their own version of the haka, the Maori war dance performed by New Zealand's national rugby team, then broke into wild celebration.
They are the only ones who appear to have believed they could go all the way in this tournament, and now they are set for an emotional return to Gabon some 19 years after a tragic plane crash off the coast there saw the country lose an entire generation of footballers. Perhaps this group will write their names into the history books.
