The Black Stars of Ghana last Saturday put up a splendid performance to snatch the bronze medal at stake when they defeated the Elephants of Cote d’ivoire by 4-2 at the play off of the 26th MTN African Cup of Nations tournament at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

The Stars, who trailed the Elephants by two goals to one during the first half of the match, put up a spirited performance to overcome the Elephants in the second half.Playing before a partisan crowd, it was the Black Stars who drew first blood when Sulley Ali Muntari’s free kick in the tenth minute of the first half sailed straight into the Ivorian net.

But the Ivoirians responded quickly. Spearheaded by Didier Drogba and ably supported by Solomon Kalou, Sonogo, and Keita, the Elephants organised themselves launched relentless attacks on the Black Stars goal area, dominated proceedings from then.

They tore the Black Stars defends apart on several occasions and came close to scoring but the agility of goalkeeper Richard Kingson, and the defence marshaled around John Mensah, Eric Addo, Hans Adu Sarpei and John Painsil kept them at bay.

However in the 24th minute, the Stars defence cave in when a long pass from Drogba found Keita around the edge of the Ghanaian 18-yard box. Keita outrun John Mensah and slot the ball pass Kingson for the equalizer.

Whiles the Ivoirians kept the pressure on the Ghanaians, Drogba initiated another move with Keita on the right flank. He received a pass from Keita and shot at goal but was spilled by Kingson. Sonogo, who lurked around the 18-yard box of the Ghanaians, tap the ball into the net for the Ivorian second goal.

From then to the blast of the referee whistle to the end of the first half, the Ivoirians dominated and dictated the pace of the game and hit the cross bar on one occasion.

On resumption of the second half, the Stars changed tactics, and began to string their passes together. The midfield began to supply ball to the attackers and on the 70th minute, Michael Essien, who had worked very hard throughout the tournament delivered a long pass to Quincy Owusu-Abeyie who substituted for injured Baffour Gyan.

He picked the pass, dribbled three Ivorian defenders and shot past Eteasse, the Ivorian goalkeeper for the needed equalizer. That goal seemed to lift the spirit of the Black Stars, who kept pilling pressure on their opponents and wining 50-50 balls.

In one of the Stars offensives in the 80th minute, Muntari laid a pass to Essien at the edge of the Ivorian 18-yard box. He picked the pass and laid the ball to Agogo to score the third goal for the Ghanaians. The goal brought back the smiles and excitement to the teaming Ghanaian supporters.

But the moment of joy came when the solo effort Ghanaian number 23 man Hamani Drama fetched the forth goal. He picked a pass from Muntari, move forward, turned and delivered a drive which beat the Ivorian goalkeeper for the last goal of the match.

From then, the stars and the Elephants made some incursions into each others’ goal area but no goals came due to near misses and poor finishing.

Line Up: Richard Kingson, Hans Adu Sarpei, John Painsil, Eric Addo, John Mensah, Anthony Annan, Michael Essien, Sulley Ali Muntari, Baffour Gyan (Quincy Owusu-Abeyie), Manuel Agogo, Haminu Draman (Kojo Asamoah).