Mali beat Ghana to finish third at Nations Cup

Mali's players celebrate after winning their third place match against Ghana at the African Nations Cup tournament in Malabo February 11, 2012.

MALABO (Reuters) - Mali finished third at the African Nations Cup after two goals from Cheick Tidiane Diabate delivered a 2-0 win over 10-man Ghana on Saturday.

The giant France-based striker scored both from close range as Mali ensured a second successive crushing defeat for Ghana, upset by Zambia in Wednesday's semi-finals, in four days.

Ghana's misery included the dismissal of central defender Isaac Vorsah for a second yellow card just past the hour mark.

Diabate put Mali ahead when he was first to react after goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey could only palm out a long-range shot in the 23rd minute, sliding the ball into the net.

He added the second with 10 minutes left after a breakaway ended with a pinpoint cross from fullback Adama Tamboura.

Diabate is level on three goals with six other players at the top of the tournament's scoring chart.

A dispirited Ghana saw Vorsah become their third player to be sent off at this year's finals.

Ghana, who had beaten Mali 2-0 in the group phase last month, thought they had scored just after halftime but Sulley Muntari's effort was ruled offside.

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Libreville: Editing by Ken Ferris; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)