Traore strikes puts Burkina Faso third at #AFCON2017
Alain Traore (No 10) does the dab after scoring the winner for Burkina Faso. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu, BackpagePix Alain Traore (No 10) does the dab after scoring the winner for Burkina Faso. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu, BackpagePix
PORT-GENTIL, Gabon – Alain Traore hammered home an 89th-minute free kick to ensure third place for Burkina Faso at the Africa Cup of Nations as they beat Ghana 1-0 on Saturday night to gain some consolation for a bitter semi-final defeat.
Burkina, denied a place in Sunday's final after losing on penalties to Egypt on Wednesday, claimed the victory as the Turkish-based striker struck a fierce shot from well outside the area.
Ghana were playing in the bronze-medal match for the third time in the last four editions, but have lost each one.
They could have gone ahead inside the first 30 seconds, but Jordan Ayew missed a good chance, as did Edward Agyemang Badu soon afterwards.
Teenager Bernard Tekpetey had the best first-half chance after a goalmouth scramble, but his effort struck the crossbar.
The young Schalke prodigy also came close with a header midway through the second half, but Ghana again paid a price for their inability to finish.