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Afcon 3rd/4th place playoff Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium 9 February 2013-02-09
Mali 3 Ghana 1
This is the game that no side wants to play but all credit to Mali and Ghana, they picked themselves up from their respective semi-final losses and put on quite a show for the small but noisy crowd that braved the elements. The rain started falling heavily just before kickoff and in high humidity with plenty of lightning about, both teams opted for an open and attractive brand of football. The Mali keeper Soumaila Diakite was the busier of the two stoppers in the first half hour, pulling off three fines saves. The Ghana keeper Abul-Fatawu also pulled off a blinder of a stop in the 15th minute. However, there was little he could do six minutes later when Mahamadou Samassa shook his marker and headed into an open net from close range to put Mali ahead. On 42 minutes Samassa nearly made it two-nil as he chipped a charging Ghana keeper on the right edge of the box – only to see his shot hit the outside of the upright. Two minutes later, Mali had an even better chance but with only the keeper to beat the captain Seydou Keita’s shot went high and wide.
Half time Mali 1 Ghana 0.
Mali came out firing in the second half and in the 47th minute the captain Seydou Keita made no mistake. He read a neat cross from right field perfectly and from only ten yards out made no mistake. The captain had his third goal of the tournament and Mali were two goals to the good. A long way back now for Ghana. The Black Stars of Ghana had their chance on 56 minutes but Mubarak Wakaso blew the penalty high and wide. Justice, one could say. Replays showed there was never a handball by Mali defender Salif Coulibaly. On 63 minutes the Mali keeper Diakite produced a stunning save diving to his right from a Ghana free kick. A minute later it was the turn of the Ghana keeper to tip one over the cross bar. End to end stuff and very entertaining considering the rain which continued to fall.
In the 81st minute Ghana finally got on the score sheet in spectacular fashion. Kwadwo Asamoah let loose with a 30 yard thunderbolt that swerved in the air and beat the keeper. Game on. With two minutes to play Mali were lucky to get away with a handball in the area, even if it wasn’t intentional. After 90 minutes Mali hung on to lead 2-1. There would be four minutes of extra time. Mali survived some anxious moments and then on the break Mali got their third through Sigamary Diarra. That was the ball game.
Final score Mali 3 Ghana 1.
Well done Mali. They win the bronze medal at Afcon 2013.
