Ivorians coast to final with Zambia

Gervinho's stunning goal helps highly-ranked west Africans down Mali

Libreville: Top-ranked Ivory Coast lived up to their billing by reaching the African Nations Cup final as the tournament delivered yet another surprise on Wednesday, when Zambia also reached Sunday's deciding match.

Wednesday's semi-finals dished up only two goals, but continued the dramatic theme that has enlivened the continental championship after several docile recent editions.

A breathtaking breakaway goal from Gervinho secured the expected win for Ivory Coast, the highest world-ranked side in African football, over Mali in Libreville, but Zambia's 1-0 victory over Ghana in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, added to the list of shocks at the three-week tournament.

Emmanuel Mayuka struck just 12 minutes from time to eliminate the highly fancied Black Stars and extend now to more than 30 years Ghana's wait for a Nations Cup title.

Zambia scored against the run of play when halftime substitute Mayuka, 21, received the ball with his back to goal. He controlled it with his first touch then swung and sent a shot curling past Adam Kwarasey and in off the foot of the post for his third goal of the tournament.

"When I had the ball, I saw the defender backing off a little bit and then I just said to myself take a shot," Mayuka told reporters.

"And then I just said to myself thank you god and I knew this was our day."

It was a fine finish but bettered in quality later by Gervinho, who flicked the ball past Mali defender Ousmane Berthe with a deft back heel and sprinted 30 metres into the penalty area to score just before half time.

"It was my pace that allowed me to get away. It was thrilling to score such an important goal," the Arsenal forward said. Ivory Coast, winners in 1992, are through to their third final.