Asamoah Gyan sends Ghana to the quarter-finals
An Asamoah Gyan strike in the first half was enough for Ghana against Mali as they became only the second side to reach the quarter finals at the 2017 AFCON tournament after Senegal.
The Black Stars were in total control of the game in the opening half and should have led inside 10 minutes but Andre Ayew and John Boye missed from close range.
Ghanas Avram Grant made a single change from the line-up that beat Uganda 1-0 with Frank Acheampong replacing the injured Baba Rahman.
Christian Atsu ripped the Mali left back Hamari Traore on a number of occasions and his effort paid off in the 20th minute when his well weighed cross into the area was headed home by Gyan for his first of the tournament.
It was also the overall 8th goal for the Ghana skipper, playing in his seventh AFCON tournament.
After the break, Mali coach Alain Giresse made a change with Yves Bissouma replacing Molla Wague and impact felt immediately as he started to run rings around the Black Stars midfield.
Mali were the better side in the second half forcing goalie Razak Brimah into four match winning saves from Bissouma, Bakary Sakho and substitutes Khalifah Coulibaly but the Ghanaians held on for maximum points.
The final whistle was greeted by wild cheers by the Black Stars fans in the stands as the side now goes on 6 points with a game against Egypt to spare.
The result means that for Mali to qualify for the quarter finals, Uganda must beat Egypt or at least force a draw in the other Group D match, and then the Malians win against The Cranes in their final group game and hope Ghana beats Egypt.
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