Source: Goal.Com
Mali won bronze at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Ghana 3-1 in the third and fourth-place play-off on Saturday in Port Elizabeth.
It was a rather quiet beginning to the game and a diving header from Samassa was enough to give Mali a half-time lead before Keita added another soon after the break. Mubarak Wakaso missed a penalty before Ghana grabbed a consolation through Kwadwo Asamoah. Sigamary Diarra added a third for Mali late on in the game as the Eagles managed another podium finish.
The game started in a calm mood with the Ghanaians getting the better of the early stages as the Eagles took some time to settle. The Black Stars, however, failed to provide any real threats to Daouda Diakite’s goal despite Mali’s sluggish start.
The Eagles finally settled down and got themselves in the game but also struggled to open up the Ghanaian defence, managing to do so only once in the first 15 minutes of the game when Samassa managed to draw a good save out of Fatau Dauda. Ghana also managed to test Diakite once in the opening quarter of an hour, with the Malian stopper having to get down quickly to save Christian Atsu’s snap shot after good work by Solomon Asante down the right.
Mali got the opening goal soon after that chance as Samassa dived in to head home a well-placed Adama Tamboura cross past goalkeeper Dauda. The Ghanaians went up the other end almost immediately but Asamoah, who won the Fair Play Award in the match, could only find the side net.