Mali have defeated Ghana 3-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth to finish third at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Patrice Carteron's side took the lead on 21 minutes through Mamadou Samassa, who scored with a diving header after Adama Tambo whipped a good cross inside the Black Stars' penalty area.

Ghana could have restored parity on the half-hour mark had Soumbeïla Diakite not been able to keep out Wakaso Mubarak's fierce volley.

Samassa was unlucky not to score his second goal of the game three minutes before the half-time interval, as he saw his shot clip the post and go out of play.

Seydou Keita did indeed make it 2-0 to Mali in the 48th minute, connecting well with Ousmane Coulibaly's cross before smashing the ball home from just 10 yards.

Ghana were given a lifeline to launch a comeback into the match when they were awarded a penalty 10 minutes later.

Coulibaly was controversially adjudged to have handled the ball inside the Mali area, but Wakaso failed to convert the resulting spot kick.

Keita thought that he had scored his second goal on 72 minutes but it was ruled out for offside.

Ghana halved the deficit with eight minutes left on the clock, Diakite failing to read Kwadwo Asamoah's attempt from 25 yards and allowing it to sail past him into the net.

However, the Black Stars failed to score a late equaliser and Mali wrapped up the win in injury time with Sigamary Diarra's volley.