ICoast, Ghana favorites to make African Cup final

By Mark Walsh

Associated Press

Published: Monday, Feb. 6 2012 12:17 p.m. MST

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Zambia's head coach Herve Renard of France smiles as he speaks to the press in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012. Zambia and Ivory Coast advanced Saturday to the semifinals of the African Cup of Nations, each asserting its power in 3-0 victories. Zambia defeated a Sudan team reduced to 10 players in Bata.

Ariel Schalit, Associated Press

Summary

Ivory Coast and Ghana are on course to meet in a showpiece final at the African Cup of Nations, with only semifinal opponents Mali and Zambia now able to prevent the eagerly awaited showdown.

BATA, Equatorial Guinea — Ivory Coast and Ghana are on course to meet in a showpiece final at the African Cup of Nations, with only semifinal opponents Mali and Zambia now able to prevent the eagerly awaited showdown.

Ivory Coast's star-studded squad has won all four matches without conceding a goal in its quest for a first cup success in 20 years.

Zambia, however, has enjoyed an impressive campaign so far and is motivated to make the final in Libreville in memory of 25 players and officials who died in a plane crash near the Gabonese capital 19 years ago.

Ghana, losing finalists in 2010, is looking for a fifth cup win but must first beat Mali, which is bidding to reach its maiden final after beating co-host Gabon on penalties in the quarterfinals.

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