Goals by Mahamadou Samassa, Seydou Keita and Sigamary Diarra gave Mali a 3-1 victory over Ghana in the African Nations Cup third-place play-off on Saturday.
Samassa put his team in front in the 21st minute with a diving header following a good pass from Adama Tamboura on the left. Man-of-the-match Keita made it 2-0 just after half-time.
Ghana wasted a chance to get back into the match when Mubarak Wakaso blazed his 58th-minute penalty high over the bar.
Ghana eventually pulled one back when Kwadwo Asamoah beat goalkeeper Soumbeyla Diakite with a long-ranger in the 82nd minute.
Then, as Ghana pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Mali caught them on the counter attack with Diarra scoring three minute into stoppage time.
Published 10 February 2013, 19:06 IST