FOR a country whose league only resumed in September, after a hiatus of more than two years because of civil war, victory for Libya in last night's African Nations Championship must be regarded as something of a fairytale triumph.

But the nature of their ascent to the winners' podium ahead of Ghana at the end of the final at the Cape Town Stadium stripped away much of the gloss, as they took the trophy on post-match penalties - after a laboured draw.

Libya won 4-3 as the shootout went to sudden death, with both teams taking six kicks. The Libyans lost count and - when Ghana missed their sixth - were still not sure whether to celebrate, having to consult the referee first.

They also needed penalties to get past both the quarter-finals and semifinals, leaving the tournament having won only once in six matches. Hardly the stuff champions are made of.

Even their coach Javier Clemente admitted before the final that they did not deserve to get through. And they did little to dispel that impression after two hours of goalless football in last night's deciding match.

The final proved a turgid end to a largely tepid tournament, which dished up a lone goal in open play in the last four matches as the paucity of quality players left the audience battling the temptation to fall asleep.

The Cape Town crowd of 16 505 sat through two matches last night, where defence organisation was sound, if unspectacular, and the attackers and creative midfielders mounted against them incapable of conjuring up the requisite skills to break through.

Nigeria won the bronze medal after Christian Obiozor scored an 87th minute header to beat Zimbabwe, who had to play with 10 men for most of the earlier third and fourth place play off after Masimba Mambare was red carded inside the opening 20 minutes.