Libya have won the African Nations Championship by beating Ghana 4-3 on penalties in the final in Cape Town.

The first chance of the match fell to Libya's Elmutasem Abushnaf, although Ghana goalkeeper Stephen Adams raced off his line to prevent the striker from getting a shot away.

As both sides tried to get a foothold on the contest, Sulley Mohammed tried his luck from 25 yards, but his effort lacked the power and direction needed to beat Adams.

Ghana came close to breaking the deadlock when Samuel Ainooson looked set to head home at the back post following a corner, but a fine defensive header prevented this from happening.

The second half continued in a similar fashion with neither team able to truly test the other. Ghana worked the ball well on the hour mark for Abraham Attobrah to get a shot away, but his attempt was straight at Mohamed Abdaula in the Libya goal.

It proved to be the last chance of the 90 minutes, with the final heading into extra time.

Javier Clemente's Libya side came close to finding the back of the net just minutes into the additional 30 minutes, although Adbelsalam Omar failed to convert his header from six yards out after rising above opposition defenders.

Omar had another chance just moments later. He again found himself free to head the ball from short distance, but Adams managed to get in the way to prevent Libya from taking the lead.

Both sides needed penalties to see off their semi-final opponents, and as the clock edged towards the end of extra time, it was clear that spot kicks would be needed again to separate the two teams.

Faisal Ali and Muataz Fadel converted Libya's first two penalties of the shootout, while Michael Akuffo and Anooison failed to convert from the spot for Ghana.

Ali Al Maghazisent's successful penalty sent the 2009 beaten finalists closer to defeat, only for Libya to miss their next two spot kicks, allowing Ghana to draw level at 3-3 in a dramatic conclusion to the game.

Ahmed El Trbi drilled his penalty down the middle during sudden death, as Joseph Tijani missed the Black Stars' next spot kick to seal victory for Libya.