Mali finish third at Africa Nations Cup after beating Ghana

By Peter Auf der Heyde Feb 11, 2012, 21:07 GMT

Libreville, Gabon - Cheick Diabate scored in both halves to give Mali a third place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-0 victory against a 10-man Ghana side on Saturday.

In front of a disappontingly small crowd in the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, which however grew as the game went on, Diabate opened the scoring in the 23rd minute after Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey managed only to palm a Samba Diakite shot to the feet of Diabate and the Bordeaux striker had an easy task to push the ball over the line.

Even after going behind, Ghana allowed Mali most of the possession and failed to create many chances to get back into the game.

Their efforts suffered a set-back midway through the second half when Isaac Vorsah was sent off for a second bookable offence. The German-based defender had already been suspended for Ghana's two opening matches at the competition and will now miss another official game.

Jordan Ayew nearly leveled matters shortly afterwards, but was unlucky to see his shot from close range crash against the cross-bar and Diabate killed off any hopes Ghana had of coming back with 10 minutes remaining by sliding into a cross from Adama Tamboura,

The brace sees the Bordeaux striker join several other players at the top of the scorer charts with three goals, but Zambians Christopher Katongo and Emmanuel Mayuka, as well as Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba, will have a chance to add to their total in Sunday's final in Libreville between the two teams.

At the end of the game, the Mali players celebrated in front of their fans and danced with their French coach Alain Giresse joining in before the players hosted him to their shoulders.

It was a disappointing finish for the Black Stars though who went into the January 21 - February 12 tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon as one of the pre-tournament favourites and were hoping to add to their four titles.