Nelspruit, South Africa - Burkina Faso will meet Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations final after defeating Ghana 3-2 on penalties yesterday at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa. It is the first time a Burkinabe team has reached the final. They clinched the victory after Emmanuel Agyemang Badu missed Ghana's third penalty after a weak shimmy and shot. The Burkinabe will be without the influential Jonathan Pitroipa in Sunday's final against Nigeria after he was sent off three minutes from the end of extra time for a second yellow card. Ghana went ahead after 13 minutes when Mubarak Wakaso scored his third penalty of the tournament after Burkina Faso defender Paul Koulibaly was harshly judged to have fouled Christian Atsu. Burkina Faso equalised after exactly an hour when Aristides Bance fired home low and hard from the edge of the penalty area. The shootout started badly for Ghana after Isaac Vorsah sent his spot kick wide and Burkina Faso kept the upper hand as Bakary Kone, Henri Traore and Bance all scored. (FA)
