Ghana eased through to the quarter-finals of the Nations cup by beating Niger 3-0 to finish top of Group B and will now take on Cape Verde on Saturday in Port Elizabeth.
Captain Asamoah Gyan was instrumental throughout the game as he set the Black Stars on their way when he controlled Albert Adomah’s cross and drove home a powerful shot just 6 minutes into the game.
Gyan then turned provider as he crossed for Christian Atsu, who controlled the ball down with his chest before poking it in on the 23rd minutes.
Ghana wrapped up victory on the 49th minutes when Gyan’s header was parried by Daouda Kassaly and John Boye tapped in the rebound from a close range.
It was a comprehensive victory and a solid performance from the Ghana team that went into the game knowing they only needed a draw to make it through to the last eight.
Mali came from behind against DR Congo to earn a point to place second and now takes on the host South Africa in the last eight of the tournament.
Dieumerci Mbokani opened the score sheet from the penalty spot after Yves Diba has been brought down by Mom Sissoko on the 3rd minutes.
But Mali levelled 11 minutes later as Mahamadou Samassa tapped home from Adama Tamboura’s neat pull-back to make it 1-1 for the Malians to earn that crucial point to join Ghana in the last eight of the tournament.
The tournament is reaching its peak moment as the four matches played so far in the last face of the group stages is producing the best of football for African and football enthusiasts to cheer about all over the world.
RESULTS (28TH JANUARY, 2013) GHANA: 3 NIGER: 0 MALI: 1 DR.CONGO: 1
FIXTURES (29TH JANUARY, 2013) BURKINA FASO VS ZAMBIA ETHIOPIA VS NIGERIA
Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa Sports News
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