Bronze For Mali Again

For the second year running, Mali have beaten Ghana in the African Cup of Nations' third/fourth place play-off. Last year's tie saw Mali win 2-0 and this year had Mali again record a two goal victory over their opponents.

Ghana had started the match with attacking intent but Asamoah Gyan was once again extremely underwhelming in his shooting. Mali did begin to grow in to the game after the opening ten minutes but Christian Atsu should have put Ghana ahead on the quarter hour mark, however his shot was straight at the keeper. Perhaps against the run of play, Mali went and took the lead on 21-minutes when Adama Tamboura's cross was headed home by Mahamadou Samassa.

Ghana continued to be the more attacking despite not really causing too much of a threat. But Mali came closest to going 2-0 ahead before half-time rather than being level again. Samassa found himself through on goal but at an acute angle and his effort agonisingly hit the post.

Ghana were caught cold in the second half and Mali would have their second three minutes into the period when Adama Coulibaly played brilliantly down the wing. He squeezed into the box before rolling a teasing ball across the box. None of the defenders could get a touch of it and Seydou Keita was able to run in a tap home.

The Ghanaians again began to attack and were given a fantastic opportunity to pull a goal back on 57-minutes. Coulibaly was adjudged to have handled the ball despite having his hands behind his back and a penalty was wrongly given. Mubarak Wakaso stepped up with the opportunity to take the lead in the golden boot competition, but his effort was awful and smashed miles over the bar.

Ghana finally pulled one back to set up a tense final eight minutes. Kwadwo Asamoah tried his luck from 25-yards in what looked like a hopeful effort. Somehow, Soumaila Diakite completely mis-judged the flight of ball and ended up diving away from it to let it in.

As the game fell into injury time, Ghana were beginning to run out of ideas and their last ditch corner was easily held. Mali then broke on the counter attack and Sigamary Diarra took advantage of the bounce to slot home and grant Mali the third place.