/ 6 February 2013

Going, going, Ghana! Burkina Faso into Afcon final

Burkina Faso's goalkeeper Daouda Diakite saves the last penalty during the penalty shoot out between Burkina Faso and Ghana in Nelspruit.
Burkina Faso's goalkeeper Daouda Diakite saves the last penalty during the penalty shoot out between Burkina Faso and Ghana in Nelspruit.

Burkina Faso edged past four-time champions Ghana to win a penalty shootout in their semifinal clash at Mbombela Stadium, in Nelspruit on Wednesday night.

Mubarak Wakaso scored from the penalty spot in the 13th minute to give Ghana the early lead, and Aristide Bance netted the equaliser for the Burkinabe from the edge of the area on the hour mark as the sides were left all square at 1-1 at the end of regulation time.

With no more goals scored after 30 minutes of additional time, Burkina Faso secured a 3-2 victory in the spot-kick decider.

Jonathan Pitroipa was sent off in the 117th minute, after he was shown a second yellow card, reducing Burkina Faso to 10 men, but his side held on in his absence in the dying stages.

The Burkinabe, ranked a lowly 92nd in the world, will face Nigeria, who thumped Mali 4-1 in the earlier semifinal in Durban, in Sunday's tournament finale at the National Stadium in Johannesburg.

Ghana will play Mali in the third-place playoff in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. – Sapa