Captain Gyan Makes History As Ghana Books Afcon Quarter Final Spot With 1-0 Win Over Mali

It was a nervy, at times atrocious second half performance from Ghana’s Black Stars but they managed to get over the line with a 1-0 victory over Mali and book their place in the quarter finals of the ongoing Afcon.

Asamoah Gyan’s record setting goal in the first half was enough, although a performance reminiscent of the first game against Uganda did little to calm nerves of Ghanaian’s concerned with the prospects of the team going forward.

A thumping header from Gyan in the 20th minute of the first half made him Ghana’s all time goalscorer at the Cup of Nations with 8 goals, an impressive record for the much maligned forward.

Ghana, in an uncanny mirror image of the first game against Uganda, started impressively and controlled the game entirely for the first half. But once again, after going ahead, the team ceded the initiative and let Mali increasingly grow into the game, the West African side coming close to an equaliser several times in the second half – with only the exploits of goalkeeper Razak Brimah saving the team.

Ghana now becomes only the second team to book a place in the next round with this victory, joining Senegal in the quarter finals. Egypt plays Uganda in the second group game in just over an hour, before the North Africans face Ghana in the big group D game on Wednesday.