Goalkeeper Boubacar Barry proved the hero as he saved a penalty in the shoot-out and then stepped up to convert the decisive spot kick as the Elephants defeated Ghana 9-8 following a dour 0-0 draw in the African Nations Cup final in Bata on Sunday.
After a dismal 120 minutes of football, the shoot-out provided incredible drama as Cote d'Ivoire missed their first two penalties, before coming back to win the match. All 11 players who finished the final had to take a turn in the shoot-out.
Barry, who would not have played in the final had regular number one Sylvain Gbohouo not sat out with a thigh injury, saved a spot kick from Ghana gloveman Razak Braimah before converting the decisive kick himself.
It is Cote d'Ivoire's first success at the continental championships since they defeated Ghana in the 1992 final - on that occasion 11-10 on post-match penalties after the teams had also played to a 0-0 draw.
The first half was a niggly affair, low on quality, which should have seen both sides lose a player.
Ivorian midfield hardman Serey Die picked up a yellow card that probably should have been red when he dug his studs into the groin areas of Ghana's Mubarak Wakaso, having followed through as the pair clashed for the ball. He will claim it was accidental, but Die had plenty of time to pull out of the challenge and chose not to.
Ghana star forward Asamoah Gyan was also lucky to stay on the pitch when he produced a deliberate stamp on the foot of Eric Bailly. Had the referee seen the incident clearly he would surely have produced a red card.
Those two incidents overshadowed the good plays on the pitch, which were few and far between in a cagey opening half.
The closest either side came to a goal was a superb Christian Atsu strike from range that cannoned back off the post with Ivorian goalkeeper Barry beaten.
For the Ivorians, Yaya Toure's free kick that was straight at Razak Braimah in the opposing goal was as close as they came.
Ghana's John Boye avoided a red card when he head-butted Bailly, who was involved in his fair share of battles across the park, but again Gambian referee Bakary Gassama gave nothing.
There were only half-chances in the second period and through 30 minutes of extra time, with penalties a seeming inevitably as both sides tired after six games in three weeks.
