We look forward to seeing you for the third place game between Ghana and Mali on Saturday. And obviously, for the final between Nigeria and Burkina Faso on Sunday.
Thank you for following us on StarAfrica.com
We can congratulate Ghana for their great tournament but they failed once again in semi final
What a great game of football we have seen tonight. It seems fair to see the Stallions making it through the final as the referee took very poor decisions.
Burkina Faso should have had a penalty 3 minutes ago for a big fault on Pitroipa in the box. Instead of that the striker was send out by the referee and will miss the final if Burkina Faso make.
Here we are penalty kicks.
120'
Bance manages to turn around his defender and takes his chance at the 18 yards. Corner-kick. Last opportunity of the game. But ends to nothing
Oh My Dear God! The referee is ruining the game. Huge fault on Pitroipa in the box. Crystal clear penalty but Mr. Slim Jedidi gives Pitroipa second yellow card for a simulation
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso Koulibaly at the edge of the box tries to find the net. Fatau Dauda saves his team again and it's a corner kick. But nothing comes from it.
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso Wonderful collective play from the Stallions, going from the right to the left. Pitroipa at the edge of the box, finds Bance. The striker puts once again too much power in his attempt. Golden occasion
Here we go again for the last 15 minutes of the game.
End of the first half of the extra time and it's still 1-1
105'
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso Nakoulma scores on a 50 yards from Kaboré but the striker committed a fault on Asamoah. Hard to say. That for me, it should be a goal
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso Bance gets a wonderful at the edge of the box and manages to dribble two defenders. But the striker puts too much power on his attempt. What a great opportunity.
The ball is going from one goalkeeper to the other. Both teams are now throwing everything they have
95'
Afful in the box on the right, takes his chance from an impossible angle but manages to find the target. Diakité saves his team and it's a corner kick. Nothing comes from it
As we head in to the final two minutes it looks increasingly like there will be extra time to decide who joins Nigeria in the final. That said, Burkina Faso have twice scored in the 95th minute earlier in the tournament, so it's not over yet...
87'
Are we going to have a late drama or extra time? I feel like we are going to have a golden goal...
87'
The game is really open now, but neither side is creating that significant chance on goal.
84'
Scoring chance for Ghana Following Diakité's save, a couple of shots on target is blocked by the defence. So close for Ghana
Scoring chance for Ghana C. Atsu in the box with a shooting opportunity, but the defence clears. It's a corner kick for the Black Stars. Nothing comes from it.
The goal seems to have increased the urgency in both teams. Ghana might have been thinking that one goal would be enough, while Burkina Faso look keen to capitalise while they're getting the majority of the possession.
65'
Burkina Faso are looking a lot more threatening now and are moving the ball about the park swiftly - at the moment they look the more likely to score.
Scoring chance for Ghana WOODWORK! C. Atsu finds Gyan on a great cross in the box. The latest shoots immediately but the post prevent Ghana from scoring a second goal
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso Corner kick for the Stallions. Bance is found in the box. His head finds the net and might has crossed the line... Need to see that again.
Burkina Faso played a bit better than the Black Stars and a draw would has been fair. But Ghana are Ghana and their talented players made the different. So far....
End of the first half.
45'
Additional time 2'
43'
Scoring chance for Ghana Misunderstanding between Gyan and C. Atsu. None of them manages to kick the ball. They were alone.
Scoring chance for Ghana Asamoah fights into the box and finds Asante at the penalty point. The defence manages to clear the attempt. Corner kick but nothing comes from it.
Despite the state of the pitch, the game is pleasant
31'
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso A 50 yards pass for Nakoulma in the box. The striker manages to control the ball but puts to much power in his attempt. Over the crossbar
Up until the penalty, Burkina Faso had had the brighter start of the two teams, there previous time on the pitch paying dividends. It doesn't look like they've let their heads drop too much through. And it's a corner kick, but nothing comes from it
Burkina Faso see plenty of the ball early on, but not really doing anything with it just yet...
3'
A big factor this evening could be the much-discussed Nelspruit pitch. The turf at the Mbombela Stadium has been heavily-laden with sand throughout the tournament, causing all sorts of the problems for the teams that have played there. This could benefit the Burkina Faso players, as all of their matches so far have been at the facility.
2'
Bance for the first attempt of the day. Way off the target
The game remains open even if Ghana look stronger, we must not forget that Burkina Faso have only conceded one goal since the beginning of the tournament
1'
Here we go at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit for the second semi final of the day
The players are making their way out on to the pitch ready for the national anthems before kickoff.
Ghana's experience should make them favourites for tonight's semi-final meeting but few are now betting against a Burkina Faso side brimming with confidence.
Burkina Faso's road to the semis has been a little more unstable; two wins and two draws was enough to see them through.
Ghana have progressed without any major hiccups, as you'd expect, turning in an impressive three wins in four so far, recording eight goals in the process.
I'm Romain Delaume and I'll be taking you through the action as Burkina Faso take on Ghana in the second semi final of the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit
Good evening and welcome to StarAfrica.com live text coverage of the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Comments
We look forward to seeing you for the third place game between Ghana and Mali on Saturday. And obviously, for the final between Nigeria and Burkina Faso on Sunday.
Thank you for following us on StarAfrica.com
We can congratulate Ghana for their great tournament but they failed once again in semi final
What a great game of football we have seen tonight. It seems fair to see the Stallions making it through the final as the referee took very poor decisions.
Game over. Burkina Faso make it through the final
Burkina Faso 1 - 0 Ghana
The Black Stars and Vorsah for the first attempt
Here we go for the penalty kicks
Burkina Faso should have had a penalty 3 minutes ago for a big fault on Pitroipa in the box. Instead of that the striker was send out by the referee and will miss the final if Burkina Faso make.
Here we are penalty kicks.
Additional time 1'
Scoring chance for Ghana
C. Atsu crosses for Gyan. The striker's head dies just a few centimetres next to the left post. Wow!
What an injustice!!!!!!!
Second yellow card for
Pitroipa
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
Koulibaly at the edge of the box tries to find the net. Fatau Dauda saves his team again and it's a corner kick. But nothing comes from it.
Maybe it is meant to be for Ghana...
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
On the corner kick, Bance takes a volley shot. Afful clears on the line. Wonderful opportunity.
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso Bance dribbling again in the box, shoots and Diakité saves his team. Corner kick
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
Wonderful collective play from the Stallions, going from the right to the left. Pitroipa at the edge of the box, finds Bance. The striker puts once again too much power in his attempt. Golden occasion
Here we go again for the last 15 minutes of the game.
End of the first half of the extra time and it's still 1-1
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
Nakoulma scores on a 50 yards from Kaboré but the striker committed a fault on Asamoah. Hard to say. That for me, it should be a goal
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
Bance gets a wonderful at the edge of the box and manages to dribble two defenders. But the striker puts too much power on his attempt. What a great opportunity.
It's Burkina Faso big time
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
Koné gets the ball at the penalty point but completely misses his head
The ball is going from one goalkeeper to the other. Both teams are now throwing everything they have
Ghana have been controlling the game since the beginning of the extra time but no danger yet on Diakité
Burkina Faso have already played 120 minutes once this tournament, needing extra time to get past Togo in the quarter-finals.
The first half of the extra time is underway
We are going for the extra time
Additional time 3'
As we head in to the final two minutes it looks increasingly like there will be extra time to decide who joins Nigeria in the final. That said, Burkina Faso have twice scored in the 95th minute earlier in the tournament, so it's not over yet...
Are we going to have a late drama or extra time? I feel like we are going to have a golden goal...
The game is really open now, but neither side is creating that significant chance on goal.
Scoring chance for Ghana Following Diakité's save, a couple of shots on target is blocked by the defence. So close for Ghana
Scoring chance for Ghana
C. Atsu with a wonderful attempt at the edge of the box. Diakité saves his team from the chaos.
10 minutes to find a winner
Yellow card for Paul Kéba Koulibaly
Koulibaly
Scoring chance for Ghana
Gyan receives the ball in the box. His head just goes over the crossbar.
Scoring chance for Ghana
C. Atsu in the box with a shooting opportunity, but the defence clears. It's a corner kick for the Black Stars. Nothing comes from it.
Chaos is in the air...
It's been a very stop-start game so far as both teams are making more and more faults.
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
On the free-kick, Bance takes his chance. His attempt passes very close from the crossbar.
Yellow card for
Boateng for a fault on Pitroipa
Both teams look a bit nervous as the time goes by.
Yellow card for
Pitroipa for a hand ball
The goal seems to have increased the urgency in both teams. Ghana might have been thinking that one goal would be enough, while Burkina Faso look keen to capitalise while they're getting the majority of the possession.
Burkina Faso are looking a lot more threatening now and are moving the ball about the park swiftly - at the moment they look the more likely to score.
Free-kick to Ghana on the right, but the delivery into the box is poor and Burkina Faso clear.
Goal for Burkina Faso
Bance
Scoring chance for Ghana
WOODWORK! C. Atsu finds Gyan on a great cross in the box. The latest shoots immediately but the post prevent Ghana from scoring a second goal
Replays have confirmed the ball did not cross the line. Good decision
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
Corner kick for the Stallions. Bance is found in the box. His head finds the net and might has crossed the line... Need to see that again.
Ghana have faced Burkina Faso three times in the African Cup of Nations and they have won all three games
Ghana are refusing to sit on their laurels and keep on attacking.
The Blacks Stars with the ball. They move quickly forward and win a corner kick. But nothing comes from it
The second half is underway
Burkina Faso played a bit better than the Black Stars and a draw would has been fair. But Ghana are Ghana and their talented players made the different. So far....
End of the first half.
Additional time 2'
Scoring chance for Ghana Misunderstanding between Gyan and C. Atsu. None of them manages to kick the ball. They were alone.
Scoring chance for Ghana
Asamoah fights into the box and finds Asante at the penalty point. The defence manages to clear the attempt. Corner kick but nothing comes from it.
Despite the state of the pitch, the game is pleasant
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
A 50 yards pass for Nakoulma in the box. The striker manages to control the ball but puts to much power in his attempt. Over the crossbar
Scoring chance for Ghana
On the counter-attack, Gyan runs for 40 yards and gets into the box. Diakité wins the duel and it's a corner kick
Ball possession: Burkina Faso 60%, Ghana 40%
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
Rouamba almost scores on a long range cross. But the defence clears his head. Corner-kick
Scoring chance for Ghana
Wakaso takes his chance at the 30 yards. His long range shot finds the net and Diakité's hands. Great attempt.
Yellow card for Prejuce Nakoulma
Rabiu for a challenge on Nakoulma at the edge of the box on the right side
Up until the penalty, Burkina Faso had had the brighter start of the two teams, there previous time on the pitch paying dividends. It doesn't look like they've let their heads drop too much through. And it's a corner kick, but nothing comes from it
Ghana are pushing right now and try to increase their advance
Scoring chance for Ghana
C. Atsu protecting the ball in the box and shooting. Diakité catches the attempt.
Goal for Ghana
Wakaso
Scoring chance for Ghana
Penalty for Ghana for a fault on C. Atsu
Scoring chance for Burkina Faso
Koulibaly is fond in the box on the corner kick. He tries a vollley short but cannot find the target
Corner kick for the Stallions on a long range cross
Rabiu is down now, but he will come back on the field
Burkina Faso see plenty of the ball early on, but not really doing anything with it just yet...
A big factor this evening could be the much-discussed Nelspruit pitch. The turf at the Mbombela Stadium has been heavily-laden with sand throughout the tournament, causing all sorts of the problems for the teams that have played there. This could benefit the Burkina Faso players, as all of their matches so far have been at the facility.
The game remains open even if Ghana look stronger, we must not forget that Burkina Faso have only conceded one goal since the beginning of the tournament
Here we go at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit for the second semi final of the day
The players are making their way out on to the pitch ready for the national anthems before kickoff.
Ghana's experience should make them favourites for tonight's semi-final meeting but few are now betting against a Burkina Faso side brimming with confidence.
Burkina Faso's road to the semis has been a little more unstable; two wins and two draws was enough to see them through.
Ghana have progressed without any major hiccups, as you'd expect, turning in an impressive three wins in four so far, recording eight goals in the process.
I'm Romain Delaume and I'll be taking you through the action as Burkina Faso take on Ghana in the second semi final of the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit
Good evening and welcome to StarAfrica.com live text coverage of the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations