Gyan puts Ghana into last eight

Roared on by a sensational amount of Mali fans inside the Stade Port Gentil, Alain Giresse’s Eagles came flying at the Black Stars in the second half, but in the end paid a heavy price for taking so long to find their feet.

It was Ghana who were sharpest in the opening half, a superb header from Asamoah Gyan proving the difference between the sides. Mali must now beat Uganda in their final Group D match to have a chance of progressing.

The pitch in Port Gentil had cut up terribly on the first Group D match day, and in a desperate attempt to preserve the surface, the Confederation of African Football decided teams would warm up off the field prior to kick off.

The referees ran around the pitch, while the goalkeepers trained just next to the dugouts, with the rest of the team indoors on an artificial surface.

This seaside town has a healthy Malian population, and many appeared to be at the stadium, drumming up a great atmosphere.

Ghana had a great chance to go in front in the eighth minute, Jordan Ayew’s cross headed wide by his brother Andre.
Christan Atsu was again in dazzling form down the right wing for the Black Stars, and he tricked his way superbly into the penalty area in the 17th minute.

Atsu payed a perfect path into the path of Jordan Ayew, but Andre Ayew rather needlessly took the ball off his younger brother’s toes, turned and fired just wide.

Mali were battling to get going despite their vociferous support, though defender Molla Wague did head just over from a Sambou Yatabare corner.

In the 21st minute, however, Ghana were in front. Jordan Ayew controlled a long ball well and produced an even better turn and cross, finding Gyan inside the box, the Ghanaian striker powering his header past Oumar Sissoko. It was Gyan’s eighth goal at an Africa Cup of Nations, making him the Black Stars’ all-time highest scorer at the tournament.

Ghana might have added to the scoreline before the break too. Oumar Sissoko pushed away a cross-shot from Jordan Ayew and a minute before half time, Atsu produced a quite sensational piece of ball control to hold off a couple of Mali defenders, but his shot was eventually blocked.

Giresse made a change at the break, bringing on Yves Bissouma for Sambou Yatabare.

The introduction of Bissouma immediately added more fire to the Eagles’ attack. Bakary Sako’s superb cross found Moussa Marega at the back post in the 50th minute, but his header was comfortably saved by Razak Brimah.

Marega wasted an even better chance two minutes later, blasing over from Sako’s knock down.

The Eagles had finally taken off and Salif Coulibaly was next to threaten, steering wide after a fine piece of chest control.

Giresse made another change, bringing on FC Rostov winer Moussa Doumbia for Mustapha Yatabare. Sako switched to the right wing and in the 70th minute, he sent in a cross that was headed out but Hamari Traore’s volley flew just over the bar.

Mali striker Kalifa Coulibaly was Giresse’s final substitute, and was also a threat,, beating Brimah to a deep cross and heading back across goal, but there was no Mali player to apply the final touch.

Coulibaly then had a chance of his own, but Razak Brimah made an excellent save.Sako had the game’s last chance, his volley parried away by Brimah.