Two goals from Cheick Diabate gave Mali a comfortable 2-0 win over 10-man Ghana in the African Cup of Nations third-place play-off in Malabo.
The rangy Bordeaux striker showed a poacher’s instinct to finish from close range in each half, with Ghana up against it after Isaac Vorsah was dismissed just after the hour mark.
The win means Mali finally win a third-place play-off at the fourth time of asking, their best placing since losing the 1972 final; Ghana – one of the pre-tournament favourites – have a year to lick their wounds, with the next edition at the start of 2013 as the tournament switches to odd years.
Ivory Coast face outsiders Zambia in the final on Sunday.
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