KOMBE LA MATAIFA HURU YA AFRIKA(CAN); MALI YACHUKUA NAFASI YA TATU BAADA YA KUIBUGIZA GHANA 3-1

Mali 3 Ghana 1: Eagles repeat 2012 third-place playoff win against Black Stars

By Andy James
Mali defeated Ghana 3-1 to finish third in the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, overcoming the Black Stars for the second consecutive year in the consolation match. 
Striker Mahamadou Samassa opened the scoring with a header in the 21st minute, captain Seydou Keita added to the lead with a close-range shot in the 48th, and Sigamary Diarra sealed the victory in stoppage time, ending Mali's emotional campaign. 
Kwadwo Asamoah scored for Ghana in the 82nd minute. Ghana striker Wakaso Mubarak missed a penalty early in the second half.

MATCH FACTS

Mali: Soumaila Diakite, Diawara, Salif Coulibaly, Adama Coulibaly, Tamboura, Ousmane Coulibaly, Kalilou Traore, Mahamane Traore, Mahamadou Samassa (Sigamary Diarra 78), Keita, Diabate.
Subs Not Used: Mamadou Samassa, N'Diaye, Wague, Maiga, Sissoko, Idrissa Coulibaly, Cheick Diarra, Yatabare, Sow, Samba Diakite, Yirango.
Booked: Tamboura.
Goals: Mahamadou Samassa 21, Keita 48, Sigamary Diarra 90.
Ghana: Dauda, Richard Boateng, Vorsah, Boye (Mensah 46), Afful, Wakaso, Awal, Asamoah, Asante, Atsu (Adomah 70), Gyan (Clottey 75).
Subs Not Used: Agyei, Pantsil, Annan, Agyemang-Badu, Derek Boateng, Rabiu, Akaminko, Boakye, Kwarasey.
Booked: Wakaso, Vorsah, Asante.
Goals: Asamoah 82.
Att: 6,000
Ref: Eric Otogo-Castane (Gabon).
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Last year, Mali beat Ghana 2-0 in the third-place playoff. They entered this year's tournament with players saying they were motivated to bring joy to fans enduring political instability and fighting back home.
Saturday's loss at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium added even more disappointment for Ghana, after they reached the semi-finals for the fourth straight time but left without the title once again. 
Ghana were consigned to the third-place match after losing the semi-final to Burkina Faso on penalties. The Black Stars won the last of their four titles in 1982. 
Mali were trying to make it to the final for the first time in more than 30 years but their hopes of a first title ended after a 4-1 defeat to Nigeria in the semis.
The Malians dedicated this latest uplifting campaign to their conflict-torn home country, where French troops are fighting Islamist extremists. 
Samassa scored with a diving header from near the penalty spot after a breakaway down the left, and former Barcelona player Keita netted his third goal of the tournament with an easy finish from close range after a cross from the right. 
Keita scored again in the 72nd minute but the goal was ruled because the offside flag was up. 
Ghana pulled a goal back near the end with a long-range left-footed shot that curled to fool Mali goalkeeper Soumaila Diakite, who was his team's hero in the penalty shootout against host South Africa in the quarter-finals.

Cruising: Former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita doubled Mali's lead just after half-time