A superbly taken free kick by forward Alain Traore moments before full time ensured Burkina Faso beat Ghana 1:0 in Port-Gentil to claim the bronze medal at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.The match looked to be headed towards penalties - as there would have been on extra time - when Ghana conceded a free kick on the right edge of the area and Traore curled a sublime shot past goalkeeper Richard Ofori in the Ghana goal.
It is the third straight time Ghana have lost their third-place match at the continental showpiece after also finishing fourth in 2012 and 2013.
The Black Stars dominated more of the game, but in the end the side that wanted it more won it.
While Burkinabe coach Paulo Duarte fielded his strongest squad, Ghana's outgoing coach Avram Grant rested a number of his top players, and handed three players their first feel of the tournament, including goalkeeper Richard Ofori, midfielder Ebenezer Ofori and exciting young forward Bernard Tekpety. Other fringe players like defender Andy Yiadom and Samuel Tetteh, as well as stand-in captain Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu also started.
The Black Stars played the better first half, but as has been the case with them this tournament, they allowed their foes find their rhythm in the second period.
Both teams had good chances to score a number of times, however decisions in the final third were poor, while finishing was for the most part wayward.
In the end though Traore found the winner and although the Black Stars desperately wanted a way back into the game, it was clearly too late.
The Stallions celebrated the win happily while Ghana looked like their disappointment happened days earlier when they failed to beat Cameroon in the semi-finals.
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