2017 AFRICA CUP - GROUP D - DAY 08 - Ghana VS Mali 1:0
Africa Cup 2017
Group D
Day 08
15th match
Ghana vs Mali 1:0
Goal Ghana
Gyan (21’)
Ghana withstood intense second-half pressure to beat Mali 1:0 and reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
Andre Ayew fired wide from six yards before Asamoah Gyan headed in the opener as Ghana started well.
Mali's Moussa Marega missed two good chances with a header and a shot, and Razak Brimah superbly saved Kalifa Coulibaly's volley late on.
The win puts Ghana into the last-eight with a game to spare, while Mali must beat Uganda to keep their hopes alive.
It could have been very different for Mali had they taken some of the chances they created in the second half.
As well as those misses from Marega and Coulibaly, Mali threatened with efforts from Salif Coulibaly, who drove just wide, and Hamari Traore, whose 20-yard volley was not far away from the top corner.
They also had a last-gasp appeal for a penalty turned down.
Ghana, who were in total control in the first half, were run ragged after the interval - and their split-personality performance will be a major concern for coach Avram Grant.
Mali must find a way to finish off their opportunities.
They have yet to score at the tournament.
If they are to have any chance of avoiding a group-stage exit.
Asamoah Gyan sets record
The Ghana skipper became his country's all-time top scorer in the competition with eight goals, overtaking Osei Kofi.
He has also now scored in six consecutive finals.
Gyan and his team-mates celebrated with a choreographed dance routine and the striker then held up a t-shirt which carried on it a get well message for Baba Rahman, who is out of the tournament because of injury.
...
Line-ups
Ghana
01. Brimah
23. Afful
18. Amartey
21. Boye
22. Acheampong
07. Atsu
05. Partey
11. Wakaso
10. A.Ayew
09. J. Ayew
• Substituted for Acquah at - (90’)
03. Gyan (Booked at 82’ min
• Substituted for Badu at - (82’)
Substitutes
02. Yiadom
04. Mensah
06. Acquah
08. Badu
12. Ofori
13. Assifuah
14.Tekpetey
15. Ofori
16. Dauda
19. Gyimah
20. Tetteh
...
Mali
01. Sissoko
23. Coulibaly
13. Wagué
04. Coulibaly
02. Traore
17. N’Diaye
08. Sylla
14. Yatabaré
07. Yatabaré
11. Sako
09. Marega
Substitutes
03. Kone
05. Traore
06. Coulibaly
10. Coulibaly
12. Doumbia
15. Konaté
16. Diakite
18. Sow
19. Traoré
20. Bissouma
21. N’Diaye
22. Diarra
Referee:
Mehdi Abid Charef
…
MATCH PREVIEW
Ghana can secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a group game to spare if they beat Mali in Group D in Port-Gentil.
Avram Grant's side, beaten on penalties by the Ivory Coast in the 2015 final, set themselves up nicely in this year's tournament by edging out Uganda 1:0 courtesy of an Andre Ayew spot-kick in their opening match on Tuesday.
It was not a vintage performance from the Black Stars but, on a terrible playing surface, Grant is only interested in winning matches for now, regardless of the manner in which they do it.
"In this tournament at the start it's important to take the points and then you have to come to your best at the right time," said the Israeli former Chelsea coach.
"In the last tournament we played very good against Senegal in the first game and we lost, even if at the end of the day we got to the final, so we just wanted to take the three points.
"Of course we can play better but this is a tournament and every game will be different."
Not everything is rosy in the Ghana camp, however.
Baba Rahman's tournament is over after he suffered anterior cruciate knee ligament damage in the first half against Uganda.
The left-back, who currently plays for Schalke on loan from Chelsea, has now been flown back to Germany to undergo further tests and possibly surgery.
Meanwhile, Harrison Afful is struggling with what could be malaria, and Ghana also went to the wrong training ground on Thursday.
When they eventually turned up at the right venue their players were forced to sit on the team bus for an hour because Uganda were still using the pitch.
West African rivals Mali showed that they are a team to be taken seriously when they drew 0:0 with Egypt in their first outing.
Alain Giresse's side will now hope to build on that with some fans no doubt hoping to see more of 20-year-old Yves Bissouma after the Lille midfielder starred from the bench against Egypt.
"He brought his freshness to the game but let's not forget that it is easier for him to come off the bench in games because of his age," warned Giresse.
MATCH FACTS
When these countries meet in group games, Ghana win.
When they meet in knockout matches, Mali win.
Ghana triumphed 2:0 in a 2012 mini-league showdown only to lose 2:0 when the sides met again in the third-place play-off.
Mali lost 1:0 a year later at the group stage, but once again reversed the result in the third-place play-off with a 3:1 triumph.
Ghana have won the Nations Cup four times, but the last success was 35 years ago against hosts Libya after a penalty shootout.
Mali finished runners-up to Congo-Brazzaville in 1972, conceding three goals in seven second-half minutes having taken the lead.
Ghana
Mali