Mali earns bronze
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Mali finished third for a second consecutive time at the 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations by defeatingGhana 3-1 Saturday at rain-drenched Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Mahamadou Samassa scored in the 21st minute and Seydou Keita gave Mali a two-goal advantage early in the second half. Kwadwo Asamoah scored a late goal to set up a tense finish but substituteSigamary Diarra put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time. It was the second successive tournament in which the Black Stars of Ghana defeated the Eagles of Mali in the group stage of the tournament only to lose out when they met a second time with the bronze medals at stake.
Nigeria, who won the CAF Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 1980 and 1994, and Burkina Faso, whose best previous showing was reaching the 1998 semi-finals, meet Sunday in Soweto for the biggest African football prize. Samassa's headed in the game's opening goal, connecting well with Adama Tamboura's cross from the left side of the penalty area.
Inspirational captain Keita claimed the second goal three minutes into the second half when he latched on to a low Ousmane Coulibaly cross and fired home from close range for his third goal of the competition. Mubarak Wakaso, joint leading scorer on four goals with Nigerian Emmanuel Emenike, wasted a great chance to edge ahead in the chase for the Golden Boot trophy when he blazed his penalty over the bar. 
But Ghana, who have now lost three of four third-place play-offs, managed to pull a goal back eight minutes from time when a speculative Asamoah shot from outside the box surprisingly found its way past Soumaila Diakite. Diarra completed the scoring three minutes into stoppage time when a long pass from midfield evaded several defenders and he took advantage with a snap shot past Dauda.