The Black Stars of Ghana underlined their superiority over their West African neighbours Mali with a hard fought 2-0 victory in the second Group D game in Franceville, Gabon. Two breathtaking goals in the second half by Asamoah Gyan and Dede Ayew meant the Stars book qualification into the quarter final stage of the competition. It was cagey and perhaps was not the true reflection of the game but the Stars stood up to be counted when it mattered most. Typical of a West African derby, the game started on a rather slow note with a feisty midfield tussle with little chances from both sides. It was Kwodwo Asamoah who fired a thunderbolt from 25 yards, forcing Diakite to parry it back into play but Sulley Muntari’s rebound was just a whisker away. The Stars began to mount pressure on the Eagles with some sweet sublime movement from Sulley, Gyan and Asamoah but failed to create any goal scoring opportunity. In the 33rd minute, it was the Udinese star again who after turning his markers inside out fired another thunderbolt similar to his first but this time flew past the face of goal. In the 37th minute Jonathan Mensah gave away a needless free kick just on the edge of the Ghana box after a reckless challenge on Diabite. He was yellow carded but nearly paid for his recklessness. Diabite curled in a superb free-kick from 25 yards beating Kwarasey in post for Ghana but hit the right goal post then to the left but Traore failed to convert the rebound. The Malians then began to settle in the game with Seydou Keita beginning to assert himself but Anthony Annan kept him well in check. The Stars were lucky not to have conceded a goal in the first half after two successive howlers from Adam Kwarasey who misjudged a free-kick came out from his area but failed to grab the ball.