Ivory Coast, intent upon laying the ghosts of failures past, and Zambia - wanting to honour their compatriots who died in the 1993 air disaster - meet in what is expected to be a deeply emotional Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.

The Zambians kept their date with destiny by stunning Ghana 1-0 in Bata, in Wednesday's first semifinal. Thus they booked their passage to Libreville for the final. It was off the coast of this city, 19 years ago, that the entire Zambian national squad perished flying to a World Cup qualifier in Dakar.

Zambia face Didier Drogba's Elephants, who beat Mali 1-0 in Libreville, thanks to a brilliant solo effort by Arsenal striker Gervinho.

After Zambia's stunning win over the Black Stars, coach Herve Renard said: "It was written in the stars that we had to return to Gabon to honour the memory of the national side wiped out in 1993."

"Twelve million Zambians wanted us to go the whole way to the final in Libreville.

"As soon as we arrive in Libreville, we will go to the spot where the plane crashed, not far from the stadium."

Zambia booked their ticket to the final courtesy of substitute Emmanuel Mayuka, who scored 12 minutes from time to give the Copper Bullets victory over the four-times champions.

The goal was scored against the run of play when Isaac Chansa set up the 20-year-old striker, whose shot from outside the penalty area flew past 'keeper Adam Kwarasey into the corner of the net.

Ghana's coach Goran Stevanovic refused to appear at the post-match press conference, and, in his absence, assistant Akwasi Appiah had to face the media: "We dominated almost all the match," he said. "They only had one or two chances but scored with one of them. Zambia is a huge footballing nation; they deserve to be in the final. But our team is very sad. Most of the players cried."

A moment of brilliance from Gervinho secured Ivory Coast's fifth consecutive win in the 2012 competition and, with it, passage to Libreville for Sunday's final.

The Elephants' class and experience prevailed in an entertaining encounter which was set alight by Gervinho's 45th-minute goal.

Mali had struggled manfully to keep the orange tide at bay in a frenetic first half, until Gervinho made his mark with a little help from some slack defending.

Winning coach Francois Zahoui cut a composed figure afterwards, saying: "We had to manage some difficult times but luckily we scored just before the end of the first half.

"I'm proud of the boys; they managed the game with calmness and patience, albeit a little stress.

"We weren't expecting such a tough game.

"I'm surprised by the work (Mali coach) Alain Giresse has done with his team. Hats off to them."

Giresse, an experienced coaching hand in Africa, said that reality had bitten his inexperienced side.

When the Ivorians, winners back in 1992, last made the final in 2006 they came off second-best to Egypt in Cairo.

Zambia are appearing for the first time since 1994, when they were defeated by Nigeria in Tunisia.

NATIONS CUP

3RD PLACE PLAY-OFF

Tomorrow

Ghana vs Mali (9pm)

FINAL

Sunday

Zambia vs Ivory Coast (9pm)