Ivory Coast end Africa Cup of Nations drought in dramatic shoot-out

Avram Grant, named Black Stars boss a mere six weeks before the tournament, did fantastically well to make such an impact, even with a side fancied to go all the way. Penalty pain is something familiar to the Israeli coach, but this was surely even more cruel and hard to bear than John Terry’s slip in Moscow.

Renard, meanwhile, has perhaps shown the Elephants the way. In blooding Bailly and Wilfried Kanon, the succession to Kolo Toure has been assured in central defence. Punters should expect the veteran Liverpool player to follow Drogba and call time on his international career now.

The same may be said of former PSG left back Siaka Tiene, while the likes of Serey Die, Salomon Kalou and Yaya Toure also face decisions over whether they wish to prolong playing at club level by now walking away from representing their country.

What this AFCON win can do is act as a watershed. The ‘Golden Generation’ now have nothing to prove. How they won this tournament and the way they went about the final are mere trivia that will pale compared to the fact they did deliver. That is what will be writ large in African football history.

Playing 3-4-3 might also be a tactical legacy Renard leaves should he decide his work is done as Ivory Coast coach. Predecessors have played more open and expansive football, but this traditionally attacking setup has been replaced by more midfield discipline, the retention of width and crosses on the counter.

Ghana should keep faith with Grant going forward too. With a youthful Black Stars squad assembled, there is long-term planning in place and the current side could still quite conceivably turn out at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Unlike the Elephants, their neighbours are unlikely to face a changing of the guard scenario soon.

And what of three years’ time? Coral rate both Ghana and Ivory Coast equal 200/1 shots to win the World Cup. They are naturally outsiders in what will be a hostile atmosphere, but it will be interesting to see how these two African forces take to going in different directions.