Ivory Coast’s stars failed to shine on a gloomy night for the country’s “golden generation” as Zambia’s team spirit overcame the Ivorians’ individual talent in Sunday’s African Cup final.

Captain Didier Drogba, Gervinho and Kolo Toure all missed penalties, and Yaya Toure and Salomon Kalou didn’t last 90 minutes after being substituted as Zambia snatched the trophy from tournament favourites Ivory Coast’s grip with an 8-7 win in a shootout after neither side scored in regulation or extra time.

Ivory Coast had appeared to have an iron grip on this year’s African Cup.

They swept to the final with five straight wins without conceding a goal, but Drogba missed a 70th-minute spot-kick and fellow English Premier League players Gervinho and Kolo Toure then failed in the penalty shootout.

It was another difficult night for the so-called golden generation, which has now lost two finals, a semifinal and a quarterfinal in the last four tournaments and threatens to be one of the best teams to go without the major prize to match its ability.