Ghana has secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Mali in a Group B game played at the Nelson Mandela Bay in Ports Elizabeth, South Africa. Mubarak Wakasu’s expertly converted first half penalty inched the Black Stars closer to a desperate qualification from the group that also has Niger and DR Congo. Ghana are no strangers to their West African foes and were lucky to have goalkeeper Fatau Dauda on the pitch after just six minutes. The Ashgold goal keeper criminally touched the ball just at the edge of the 18 yard box after a mix-up with his last defender John Boye and instead of a straight red, he was leniently given a yellow card. Fatau was even lucky as Seidu Keita blasted just wide the resulting free-kick. The Black Stars took the game to the Eagles with Asamoah Gyan curling a superb ball which was only palmed away for corner. Then it was the turn of Agyemang Badu who soared higher than his marker to connect a perfect cross from Wakasu but he was denied by the post. It was Gyan who set-up Agyemang Badu in the 35th minute but a flippant Toumboura tackle ensured Ghana won a penalty kick which Wakasu stepped up and scored only for him to be needlessly yellow carded for removing his shirt. The Espanyol midfielder will miss Ghana’s last group game against Niger. The Eagles came in strongly late on with Fatau Dauda scoring full marks with superb saves on two occasions and getting injured in the process. From recess the Eagles looked desperate for the equalizer and pressed on and were nearly handed the equalizer after a dreadful piece of defending by Vorsah who had, until his mistake, had a great game. But Diabate failed to punish the Stars who held on for a crucial victory.