Libya have won the 2014 African Nations Championships after they defeated Ghana on penalties in Cape Town.
After a disappointing 90 minutes, the match sparked into life in extra time as both teams squandered good opportunities to seal the win.
However, the match went to penalties, and after letting slip a 3-0 advantage in the shootout, Libya recovered to earn a 4-3 success.
Read below to see how the tournament came to an eventful conclusion.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the African Nations Championship final between Libya and Ghana.
After 16 teams began this competition, we are left with just two - Libya and Ghana. While Ghana were considered one of the pre-tournaments favourites, Libya were not, and their run through to the final has seen them win just one match in normal time!
That said, they should receive a lot of credit for making this far, and tonight's final is far from a foregone conclusion. Ghana had to exert plenty of energy with 10 men on Wednesday, and it remains to be seen whether they will still be feeling the effects of that.
One statistic that is in Ghana's favour is that they have only conceded one goal in five matches. Whether it's at the World Cup or this competition, that's a tournament-winning stat. Their defence hasn't been breached for 317 minutes.
PREDICTION! There's no doubting that Ghana deserve their tags as favourites, but this isn't going to be a game where the favourites steam-roller the underdogs. Libya are more than capable of getting a result, but it just depends on whether they can handle the experience, and what a win would do for their nation.
I think it's about time for some team news. Full details to follow.
LIBYA XI: Abdaula, Almaghasi, Elhouni, Alwani, Salama, El Trbi, Elgadi, Ghanudi, Mohamed, Ali, Abushnaf
GHANA XI: Adams, Saka, Ainooson, Tijani, Sulley, Akuffo, Opoku, Attobrah, Bansey, Anobaah, Mohammed
We are less than five minutes away from the match in Cape Town. After sitting through both semi-finals, I just hope there are a few goals!
The stadium is by no means full in Cape Town, but it's a terrific atmosphere! We are underway.
Ghana are the quickest out of the blocks, and immediately force Abdaula into a save through Seidu Bansey, who saw his looping header plucked out of the air by the goalkeeper.
Libya striker Mohamed Ghanudi attempts an audacious response for his team, but his 30-yard shot goes into the side-netting.
CHANCE! The ball gets played through to Libya striker Elmutasem Abushnaf and he looks in on goal. However, Stephen Adams was fast off his line to smother the opportunity and Ghana cleared.
Well I wasn't expecting this kind of start! Where was this in the semi-finals?!
Stephen Adams is keeping his team in this at the moment. He just had to fly out of his goal to punch a threatening cross clear, but he's taken a blow to the leg after colliding with his own player.
Ghana's Sulley Mohammed tries his luck from 25 yards, but his shot lacked power and direction. Other than that, it was an half-decent effort...
Apparently, Libya have only lost twice in nine matches to Ghana. Sounds as though I did them a disservice earlier on!
Ghana are beginning to dominate possession in Cape Town, but they can't create a clear opening. I've been very impressive with Libya so far. They look compact and organised, while possessing the speed to counter-attack to good effect.
Libya earn a throw in deep inside the Ghana half, but their opponents waste no time in hitting the ball clear. It's all turned a bit scrappy after that promising start.
Despite there been a lull in the action, the crowd are having a good time in the stands! Abraham Attobrah shoots from 25 yards, but he slices his shot wide of the post.
Just over five minutes to go until half time in Cape Town. The goal-mouth action has dried up completely, and I think both sides will be perfectly content to get in level at the break.
Ghana win a free kick around 45 yards from goal, but it's headed clear by Libya and they break. However, a last-ditch tackle from a Ghana defender prevents Mohamed Ghanudi advancing past the last man.
Ghana earn another free kick from a similar position, but despite it being a better ball into the area, it's well defended by Libya. Just two minutes to go before half time.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Libya 0-0 Ghana
The referee blows up 30 seconds early in Cape Town, but I doubt it would have made much difference. We are goalless at half time, and it looked like being that way from the last 25 minutes of the first half.
Despite being level, Libya have been far the more impressive of the two outfits. Ghana have looked capable of scoring a scrappy goal, but Libya look an efficient unit and hopefully this tournament will give them the confidence to progress on a bigger stage.
I'm not one to moan about the last time I witnessed a goal in this competition (I jest), but it has been 338 minutes. So, while I am optimistic that we will see a goal in normal time, don't get your hopes up!
We are back underway in Cape Town.
Both sides start off competitively in midfield, but neither team can get a foothold of possession.
Ghana win their fourth corner kick of the match, and it takes a fine defensive header to stop Samuel Ainooson heading home at the back post. Another corner follows, but the referee quickly blows for a foul.
Libya move up the other end and win a free kick, but like with Ghana's corner, the referee soon spots an infringement.
You'd have to imagine that alterations aren't too far away. Perhaps from Ghana first, who still can't create anything of note from open play.
SHOT! We have a shot...on target too! Ghana worked the ball well around the penalty area to set up Abraham Attobrah, but his driven effort from 20 yards was straight at the goalkeeper.
Ghana are going to make a substitution, with Yahaya Mohammed coming on in place of the injured Sulley Mohammed. I have no idea whether there is any relation...
Now Libya are making an alteration. Abdelsalam Omar, who has scored three goals in this competition, is coming on in place of Mohamed Ghanudi.
Libya win their first corner of the match, and although the first cross is cleared, a second is delivered into the box, but a header loops up into the air and is claimed by Stephen Adams.
There are less than 20 minutes to go in Cape Town. Will we get a goal?! The Ghana coach is urging his team forward, but they need the ball first!
I've lost count of the number of fouls that this referee has given. He has certainly been very picky.
Now then, what can Libya come up with after winning a free kick on the right touchline? A lot of men made their way forward, but the set piece didn't clear the first man.
OUCH! Well that's going to hurt! Two Ghana players - I think Theophilus Anobaah and Joshua Tijani - have just clattered into each other, and both are flat out on the deck.
OUCH! And again! Samuel Ainooson is down now after producing a remarkable block to deny Libya a shot on target.
All three players are back on their feet. In truth, it was probably the most entertaining incident of this second half...apart from the players in question of course.
Ahmed Alwani is handed a yellow card for a tug on a Ghana player. It looked harsh. Nothing came from the resulting free kick.
We are nearly into added-on time in Cape Town, This is going to extra time. Probably penalties.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
FULL TIME: Libya 0-0 Ghana
Well, it was always going to happen...
Hardly anything happened in that half, but Ghana probably shaded the second 45 minutes.
We are back underway in Cape Town.
CHANCE! Libya should be ahead! That's a shocking miss from Abdelsalam Omar. He rose above the defender from six yards out, but his header missed the top corner by a couple of yards.
Libya have upped the intensity, but Ghana are defending well to shut out any attacks. However, their best player of the night - Ahmed Alwani - is down clutching his leg.
Both teams swing a couple of crosses in from the left, but they are easily claimed by the respective goalkeepers. We move past 100 minutes. For anyone interested in my personal record without a goal, it has now been 403 minutes...
Sepp Blatter is in attendance in Cape Town. He doesn't appear to be enjoying himself that much.
Ghana are attempting to force the issue as we near the half-time whistle, but more superb defending from Libya ensures that their goalkeeper isn't forced to make a save.
HALF TIME: Libya 0-0 Ghana
We are back underway, and Ghana nearly score after 15 seconds! Abdul Mohammed nicked in behind the Libya defence, but his hooked effort trickled agonisingly wide of the post.
CHANCE! How has Abdelsalam Omar missed?! Disaster for Libya. They should be ahead. The striker had a free header from six yards - literally no-one is anywhere near him - but Stephen Adams somehow managed to get in the way of the ball.
Javier Clement is seething on the touchline. I don't blame him. That was the win right there.
Seven minutes to go. We've never looked more likely to get a goal, but we are close to having this final decided on penalties.
All of a sudden, Libya are having to defend deep, but they are passing the test with flying colours. Three minutes to go!
Cramp is starting to set in for a few players now. One of the Libya men have had to be stretchered off with it. I assume he will be back. Ghana are bringing on Jackson Owusu. Could he be a possible penalty taker?
FULL TIME: Libya 0-0 Ghana
We are going to penalties!
Libya will be ruing that chance that they had in extra time, but Ghana could possibly say the same at the start of the second period.
Libya 1-0 Ghana It's Libya to start through Faisal Ali. Can he score? Yes. Great pen.
Libya 1-0 Ghana Michael Akuffo misses! It's a great save from Mohamed Abdaula. Libya earn the early advantage.
Libya 2-0 Ghana Libya extend their advantage through Muataz Fadel.
Libya 2-0 Ghana Ghana miss again! Samuel Anooison is the guilty party, but it's another decent stop from Abdaula.
Libya 3-0 Ghana Libya surely have the trophy now. Almaghasi sends the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Libya 3-1 Ghana Attobrah must score to keep his side alive...and he does! Terrific spot-kick.
Libya 3-1 Ghana Mohamed Elgadi has a chance for glory for Libya. But he misses! Stephen Adams saves.
Libya 3-2 Ghana Now this is getting interesting! Ghana's Saka sends the ball into the top corner. One penalty left each. Libya can win it with this kick.
Libya 3-2 Ghana Omar misses! Unbelievable! That was the same player who missed the sitter in extra time...Ghana must score to take us to sudden-death.
Libya 3-3 Ghana Libya are throwing this away! Ghana level through Jackson Owusu.
Libya 4-3 Ghana Ahmed El Trbi drills the ball down the middle, just missing the keeper's legs.
Libya 4-3 Ghana Ghana miss! Libya have won the African Nations Championship!
Unbelievable scenes in Cape Town. Libya were 3-0 ahead in that shootout and very nearly threw it away!
What has gone on here? The Libya squad have just been screaming at the officials. Had they considered a retake of the decisive penalty? Who knows, but the result stands. Libya have won.
Ghana's last kick was taken by Joseph Tijani, but his effort went wide.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Normal time was terrible, Extra time improved slightly, and the penalty shootout was just downright crazy! Congratulations to Libya and their supporters. I hope that they can build on this success because their work ethic deserves it. Goodbye for now.
