Cape Verde's fairytale has finally come to an end as Ghana became the first team through to the semi-finals. The hosts, South Africa, were also dumped out of the tournament after losing to Mali on penalties. Mali will now meet the winners of Nigeria and Ivory Coast while Ghana have the rather easier challenge of playing the winners of Burkina Faso and Togo.
The start of the match between Ghana and Cape Verde was very much in the same vain of the rest of the tournament so far. The teams were happy enough with the ball in midfield but were then extremely wasteful in the final third, again leaving much to be desired. It was perhaps no surprise to see Ghana look to attack more but neither keeper needed a drink at half-time.
The game changer came on half-time when Wakaso Mubarak came back from suspension on replaced Albert Adomah. Ghana were given a great opportunity to break the deadlock when Asamoah Gyan was shoved over by Carlitos in the box nine minutes into the half. The referee pointed to the spot and it was Mubarak who stepped up and planted his penalty straight down the middle to put Ghana ahead.
Substitute Platini did look lively again for Cape Verde and managed to force a great save from Fatawu Dauda. Dauda was the main reason for Cape Verde not conceding with fantastic saves from Babanco and Djaniny. Wakaso almost ended up putting Ghana 2-0 ahead but his great chance was wasted, firing his shot miles over.
Ghana looked to be the more attacking in the final minutes but Dauda once again had to perform a great save to keep Cape Verde at bay in the fourth minute of injury time. Cape Verde's hearts were finally broken when the keeper had come up for a corner and Ghana were able to break away. Wakaso easily placed the ball into the empty net to book their place into the last four once again.
The second quarter-final had to separated on penalties before Mali once again joined Ghana in the final four.
Mali had much of the ball in the opening but Bernard Parker actually had the first shot for South Africa. South Africa gained momentum from that and provided some excellent service down both wings, but the strikers couldn't find a shot.
The hosts finally managed to find a breakthrough when Thuso Phala mis-hit a May Mahlangu pass and the ball fell kindly to Tokelo Rantie. Rantie easily placed the ball into net to make it 1-0 just after the half hour mark. South Africa continued to be the better team and may have been slightly upset not to have gone into the tunnel at more than 1-0.
South Africa came began the second half as they finished the first but Lehlohonolo Majoro was quickly closed down by the keeper and unable to try and make it 2-0. Mali then hit the hosts with a sucker punch as they went straight up the other end and Mahamadou Samassa's cross was headed home by Seydou Keita, 13-minutes into the half. South Africa continued to be the more attacking side, but without really troubling the keeper and the game fell into extra time.
Itumeleng Khune managed to pull off a great save in the early part of extra time but Mali couldn't threaten during the first half while South Africa couldn't get in behind the 11-Mali players. The second half of extra time was mainly filled with unadventurous corners and the game unsurprisingly went into penalties.
South Africa went first and Siphiwe Tshabalala slotted home before Cheick Diabate levelled. Mali gained the upper hand when Dean Furman's effort was saved. Adama Tamboura easily made it 2-1 and Mahamane Traore made it 3-1 after Mahlangu's penalty was also saved. Majoro stepped up needing to score but his effort sailed miles wide and Mali were assured of their place in the semi-finals.
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