Mensah the hero and villain as Ghana beat Botswana

JOHN MENSAH scored, then saw red as 10-man Ghana held on to beat Botswana in their African Nations Cup Group D opener.

The Lyon defender, formerly of Sunderland, scored the only goal with his knee after 25 minutes in Franceville, then earned a straight red midway through the second-half for a professional foul. It means Mensah will miss their next match against Mali, but he had already made the telling contribution of a poor game against lowly Botswana.

Neither side had created much when Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu’s corner was flicked on at the near post by Asamoah Gyan and Mensah was on hand to provide an inelegant but effective final touch.

Botswana were handed a lifeline when Mensah was sent off for a professional foul after 67 minutes after tangling with Botswana’s Jerome Ramathlakwane as the striker went through on goal. Ramathlakwane sent the resulting free-kick straight into the wall.

GHANA: Larsen, Boye, John Mensah, Pantsil, Inkoom, Muntari (Jonathan Mensah 72), A Ayew (Abu 88), Annan, Agyemang-Badu, Gyan, J Ayew (Alhassan 59).

BOTSWANA: Marumo, Gabonamong, Thuma, Ramohibidu, Letsholathebe, Motlhabankwe, Nato, Motsepe (Ngele 60), Mongala, Moatlhaping, Ramathlakwana.

Mali 1Guinea 0

A SPECULATIVE effort from Bakaye Traore flew high into the net to secure a hard fought 1-0 win for Mali over Guinea in their opening African Nations Cup Group D match in Libreville. The French-born midfielder struck a firm shot from just outside the penalty area to separate the west African rivals, the last of the 16 teams in the tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to get their campaigns underway

The 29th-minute goal came after a strong run from Modibo Maiga who cut the ball back for Traore to blast home as Seydou Keita scampered out of the way.

Mali’s win sets up a mouth-watering meeting with Ghana on Saturday.

MALI: Soumaila Diakite, Drissa Diakite (Ousmane Coulibaly 85), Kante, N’Diaye, Tamboura, Keita, Bakaye Traore, Samba Diakite (Sow 74), Abdou Traore, Diabate (Dembele 64), Modibo Maiga.

GUINEA: Naby-Moussa Yattara, Thierno Bah, Bobo Balde, Zayatte, Ibrahima Diallo, Feindouno, Jean Habib Balde (Sadio Diallo 79), Mamadou Bah, Alhassane Bangoura (Abdoul Camara 58), Traore, Ismael Bangoura (Barry 61).