Ghana opened a three-point lead at the top of Group D at the Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-0 win over Mali in Franceville on Saturday night.
The pair of goals came in the second half from an Asamoah Gyan free-kick and an Andre Ayew piece of brilliance.
Gyan added to the tournament's impressive list of freekick goals with a 30 metre effort and his cheeky backheel set up a superb second for Dede Ayew.
The Black Stars began the game very well, pinning their opponents in their own half in the opening six minutes but the Malians gradually fought their way back with winger Modibo Maiga leading the charge.
As time went on the Eagles looked the more composed side on the ball as they left the Ghanaians chasing shadows with their sleek passing game.
The game from there onwards became evenly balanced with neither of the sides taking the initiatives, making golascoring chances very scarce to come by.
Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwearasey looks suspect with his judgement of coming out for area balls as the Malians kept floating it into the danger area but the Ghana defence were up to it.
Ghana’s shining star thus far Kwadwo Asamoah produced the game’s first chance in the 25th minute – firing from 20-yards out but the Diakite Soumaila in post for Mali parried away after the ball took a wicked bounce into the part of Sulley Muntari who put his rebound wide.
Kwadwo Asamoah yet again produced another moment of brilliance in the 35th minute after letting one fly following a neat dummy but his shot went agonizingly wide to the disappointment of the Ghanaian fans.
The Udinese star has quickly justified his emergence into the Black Stars’ starting lineup and should be playing more.
Jonathan Mensah nearly became the villain after picking up the first yellow card of the game a minute later following a cynical challenge on Cheick Tidiane.
The big number 9 picked himself up to dispatch a neat free kick which came off the inside of Ghana’s post but failed to cross the line.
Mali’s star-man Seydou Keita was the second to enter referee Djameil Haimoudi’s book for persistent complaints in the 40th minute.
Andre Ayew came close to opening the scoring in added time of the first half but his glancing header off a John Paintsil cross was miss-directed to send the game to recess.
The second half began on a very rough note with either side picking a couple of bookings for rash tackles.
Kwadwo asamoah then latched onto Ayew’s head-on to deliver a delightful cross to the far post it was too high for Muntari to reach.
Ghana’s best goalscoring chance came in the 54th minute when goalkeeper Diakite Soumaila failed to a first time grab of a ferocious strike from Andre Ayew but he was quicker to the rebound to beat Sulley Muntari and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu who were making a run for it.
It was to be the Inter Milan midfielder’s last meaningful contribution to the game as he was minutes later replaced by Charles Takyi.
Asamoah Gyan then sent the Ghanaian supports nuts when he expertly dispatched a 63rd minute free kick to the left-hand side of Soumaila’s goal leaving the lanky goalkeeper stretching in despair.
The however moments later had their hearts in their mouth as a power header off a corner by Tidiane luckily hit the outside of the net.
Kwarasey’s aerial frailty was yet again fully exposed as he failed to make the grab when he came out.
Andre Ayew then got Ghana’s second after capping a neat solo effort which included the involvement of Asamoah Gyan with a low drive to beat goalkeeper Diakite at his near post in the 76th minute.
Ayew then collected a backheel from Gyan and teased two defenders before firing a low shot in at the near post in the 76th as Ghana finished strongly.
The Black Stars held onto the two-goal lead as Mali tried in futility to at least get a consolation.
Ghana thus take firm control of Group D with six points from two games ahead of the final match against Guinea on Wednesday.
Ghana's place in the knockout stage is still not certain ahead of its game against Guinea. Mali plays Botswana and all three contenders could still finish on six points, leaving Group D to be decided by their head-to-head records and goals scored in those games.
Ghana: Adam Kwarasey, Asamoah Gyan, John Pantsil, Anthony Annan (Derek Boateng, 90), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Andre Ayew, Sulley Muntari (Charles Takyi, 59), Masahudu Alhassan, Jonathan Mensah, Kwadwo Asamoah (Samuel Inkoom, 89), John Boye.
Mali: Soumaila Diakite, Adama Tamboura, Ousmane Berthe, Cedric Kante, Abdou Traore (Samba Sow, 86), Cheick Diabate (Garra Dembele, 65), Modigo Maiga (Mustapha Yatabare, 77), Seydou Keita, Drissa Diakite, Bakaye Traore, Samba Diakite.