[Mhiz Rebecca]

Alain Traore scored a stunning free
kick with one minute remaining as
Burkina Faso finished third at the
African Cup of Nations with a 1-0
victory over Ghana on Saturday.
Earlier in the week, Burkina Faso
lost in the semifinal to Egypt and
were desperate to end their
campaign in Gabon on a high.
On his part, Ghana’s coach, Avram
Grant, made several changes to his
starting XI from the match with
Cameroon, with Tekpetey, Tetteh,
Ofori, Yiadom and Badu all
introduced.
That gamble proved costly as the
Black Stars could not find a way past
the determined Stallions team who
will be happy to claim the third
place.
Incidentally, Grant is to leave his
post as Ghana coach according to
officials.
Grant’s two-year contract will not be
renewed and the search is on for a
successor, senior Ghana Football
Association officials told Reuters.
The former Chelsea manager took
over as Ghana coach one month
before the last Nations Cup in
Equatorial Guinea and took the side
to the final where they lost to Ivory
Coast on penalties.
At the tournament in Gabon, Ghana
reached the semi-finals but were
beaten 2-0 by Cameroon in Port
Gentil on Thursday.
Though Ghana have qualified for six successive
Nations Cup semi-finals their last victory in the
tournament came 35 years ago.