Third place: Mali’s Diabate’s brace sinks Ghana

Cheick Diabate’s brace was all Mali needed to overcome tournament favourites Ghana 2-0 in the third place match of the 2012

Cheick Diabate’s brace was all Mali needed to overcome tournament favourites Ghana 2-0 in the third place match of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations played at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Saturday.

It was sweet revenge for the Malians, who had lost by the same margin to the Black Stars in the group stage of the tournament.

Both sides had lost their semifinal games on Wednesday with the Ghanaians surprisingly beaten 1-0 by Zambia while Mali succumbed to Cote d’Ivoire by the same score line.

Four-time champions Ghana had chances early on but failed to convert them but it was the Malians that came closest to opening scores when Samba Diakite sixth minute cross bounced off the top of the crossbar.

The Eagles however got the opener on 23 minutes. Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey palmed away Bakaye Traore’s low corner kick but Diabate was on hand to turn home the rebound.

The Black Stars efforts to rstore parity was dealt a huge blow when midfielder Isaac Vorsah was sent off for a second yellow card. And the Malians made the numerical strength, with the tall and powerful Diabate grabbing his second goal of the night in the 80th minute.

The Bordeaux striker was on hand to tap in Adama Tamboura’s low cross of a counter attack by the Malians and hand Mali their first medal in the competition in 40 years. They were runners-up back in 1972.

Ghana tried in vain to reduce the tally with John Pantsil’s fantastic 85th minute cross finding Andre Ayew unmarked at the back post but the youngster played his shot wide.

Jordan Ayew also had a shot deflected off the woodwork but it was too little too late as Egyptian referee Gehad Grisha blew the final whistle.