Ghana’s semi-final qualification quest suffered a jolt after a shock 1-0 defeat to Mali on Tuesday in the second Group A 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations match.
The Black Queens were a seeking a second straight win to become the first team to reach the last four but that backfired.
Mali, who lost their opening match to Cameroon, put up a brave fight to collect the points which sees the pool now thrown wide open.
In the third minute, Portia Boakye delivered an in-swinger to a free-kick which was palmed away-though not convincing-for a corner kick which was eventually wasted.
On the seventh minute mark, stand-in captain Priscilla Okyere attempted a long-range shot but it was too direct and the ball was easily collected by goalkeeper Adoudou Konate.
Linda Eshun whipped in a cross from the left after 18 minutes and it eluded target woman, Janet Ayieyam before flying across the face of goal.
The hosts were stung in the 22nd minute when the crawling Patricia Mantey- Black Queens goalkeeper-deliberately fouled striker Bassira Toure inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Toure, who plays for Malian side AS Mande, dusted herself to expertly nail that penalty through the middle to give the Female Eagles the lead.
From there it was all about the Malians who won a free-kick and Fatoumata Diarra tried to bent one into the far side but it was over-hit.
Just after the half-hour mark Juliet Acheampong cushioned a ball and laid a pass for Boakye whose shot, a low grounder, was off target.
Before the break, Grace Asantewaa unleashed a long range shot on a free-kick from 25 yards but it zoomed straight into the arms of Konate.
