Mali beat Ghana to finish third at Africa Cup of Nations

Mali beat Ghana to third place in the African Cup of Nations for a second year running with a 3-1 victory at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Having beaten the highly-rated Black Stars 2-0 in the same fixture last February, Mali took the lead midway through the first half when Mamadou Samassa placed a diving header into the bottom right.

They doubled their advantage early in the second half through talismanic skipper Seydou Keita, with Wakaso Mubarak missing a penalty for Ghana on 58 minutes.


Justice was served on that occasion as the spot-kick was erroneously awarded as the ball hit Ouseman Coulibaly on the chest, not the arm as the otherwise excellent referee decided.

Ghana did pull one back when a Kwadwo Asamoah shot went in off hapless goalkeeper Soumbeila Diakite, but with the Black Stars chasing the game substitute Sigamary Diarra added a third to seal the victory.

Sunday's final sees twice winners Nigeria face surprise package Burkina Faso.