Zambia's football team has won its first African Cup of Nations after beating tournament favorite Ivory Coast in a dramatic 8-7 penalty shootout.

The game Sunday in Gabon's capital, Libreville, was scoreless after regulation and extra time. The two teams needed 18 kicks in the shootout to decide the match, with Zambia's Stophira Sunzu scoring the decisive goal.

Ivory Coast had a chance to take a lead in the 70th minute with star Didier Drogba lined up to take a penalty kick. Zambia's goalkeeper dove to the opposite side of Drogba's shot, leaving an open net, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.

Zambia's victory took place close to the site of a 1993 plane crash that killed 25 members of its national team.

This year's squad visited a beach near the crash site after arriving for the finals last week.