Earlier this year Zambia won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after beating the Ivory Coast 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shootout in Sunday's final in Libreville.
Defending champions —
Earlier this year Zambia won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after beating the Ivory Coast 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shootout in Sunday's final in Libreville.
AFP/Getty Images
It was a poignant win for Zambia, who lost 18 members of their squad in a plane crash in Gabon in 1993.
Gone but not forgotten —
It was a poignant win for Zambia, who lost 18 members of their squad in a plane crash in Gabon in 1993.
Getty Images
French coach Herve Renard is still in charge of the defending champions, who travel to Kampala to play Uganda on Saturday, holding a 1-0 first-leg lead. This is Renards' second spell as Zambia coach, with the 44-year-old having also been with the team between 2008 and 2010.
Herve the hero —
French coach Herve Renard is still in charge of the defending champions, who travel to Kampala to play Uganda on Saturday, holding a 1-0 first-leg lead. This is Renards' second spell as Zambia coach, with the 44-year-old having also been with the team between 2008 and 2010.
Getty Images
Ivory Coast fans in the city of Abidjan were inconsolable after the defeat in February. The 1992 champions have failed to deliver success despite having star players such as Didier Drogba and brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure.
Ivorians inconsolable —
Ivory Coast fans in the city of Abidjan were inconsolable after the defeat in February. The 1992 champions have failed to deliver success despite having star players such as Didier Drogba and brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure.
Getty Images
Now playing for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, Drogba could have put the Ivory Coast ahead midway through the final's second half, but fired his penalty high over the crossbar. The striker also missed a spot-kick in the Elephants' 2006 shootout defeat to Egypt. This is likely to be Drogba's last Cup of Nations and, as such, this represents the final chance for the Ivorian golden generation to at last win something.
Time running out for Drogba —
Now playing for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, Drogba could have put the Ivory Coast ahead midway through the final's second half, but fired his penalty high over the crossbar. The striker also missed a spot-kick in the Elephants' 2006 shootout defeat to Egypt. This is likely to be Drogba's last Cup of Nations and, as such, this represents the final chance for the Ivorian golden generation to at last win something.
Getty Images
Ivory Coast's fans were in a better mood after the 4-2 win over Senegal at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan in the first leg of the play-off in September for next year's tournament.
'Elephant' fan —
Ivory Coast's fans were in a better mood after the 4-2 win over Senegal at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan in the first leg of the play-off in September for next year's tournament.
AFP/Getty Images
Ivory Coast are now coached by former France international Sabri Lamouchi. It is Lamouchi's first coaching role following a playing career that saw the 40-year-old play for Auxerre, Monaco, Parma, Inter Milan and Marseille.
New role for Lamouchi —
Ivory Coast are now coached by former France international Sabri Lamouchi. It is Lamouchi's first coaching role following a playing career that saw the 40-year-old play for Auxerre, Monaco, Parma, Inter Milan and Marseille.
AFP/Getty Images
Newcastle's Ivory Coast international Cheick Tiote (right) will be up against his club teammate Papiss Cisse (left) of Senegal on Saturday in the second-leg playoff.
Club teammates but international rivals —
Newcastle's Ivory Coast international Cheick Tiote (right) will be up against his club teammate Papiss Cisse (left) of Senegal on Saturday in the second-leg playoff.
Getty Images
In September, Cape Verde produced a huge upset with their 2-0 home win over Cameroon. Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto'o had refused a call-up for the match over his unhappiness with the Cameroon Football Association's imposition of an eight-match ban for his role in a players' strike in 2011. However he has made himself available for the second leg.
Cape Verde victory —
In September, Cape Verde produced a huge upset with their 2-0 home win over Cameroon. Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto'o had refused a call-up for the match over his unhappiness with the Cameroon Football Association's imposition of an eight-match ban for his role in a players' strike in 2011. However he has made himself available for the second leg.
AFP/Getty Images
The final of the Africa Nations Cup will be played in Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium, which hosted the 2010 World Cup final, on February 10 2013.
Showpiece final —
The final of the Africa Nations Cup will be played in Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium, which hosted the 2010 World Cup final, on February 10 2013.
AFP/Getty Images