Ghana into last four at AWC

By Oluwashina Okeleji
BBC Sport, Oghara

Ghana fans will be celebrating their team's progress at the AWC

Two goals from Anita Amankwa helped Ghana beat rivals Cameroon 2-1 to book their place in the semi-finals of the African Women's Championship.

The match attracted a capacity crowd to stadium in Ughelli.

Amankwa gave Ghana the lead when she finished off a fine solo run with a lob over the Cameroon goalkeeper Lili Ndoungwo in the 28th minute.

The Indomitable Lionesses drew level eight minutes after half-time as Bella Francoise profited from a defensive mix-up to slot pass Ghana's Enti Gladys.

After a flurry of misses Amankwa eventually won the game for the Black Queens with a goal in the final moments of the match.

The victory was sweet revenge for Ghana, who were beaten by Cameroon in the 2004 African Women's Championship semi-finals.

Ghana coach Isaac Paha revealed today's victory didn't come as a surprise.

"I knew we were going to improve today, we made errors in the first game against Mali, but we have corrected all that today," Paha told BBC Sport.

"I came here for the ultimate [the trophy] and I believe we are still on track.

In the day's other Group B match Mali came from behind to edge out the stubborn Democratic Republic of Congo 3-2.

The DR Congo took the lead in the 28th minute through captain Cyrille Zuma, who controlled a cross from Vumongo Nzuzi before beating a defender and shooting past Mali goalkeeper Djeneba Bamba.

Mali drew level just eight minutes later as Fatoumata Doumbia's brilliant shot stunned the Congolese.

Doumbia then turned provider as her pass was converted by Fatoumata Diarra, much to the delight of the fans.

With just five minutes left on the clock the DR Congo thought they had salvaged a point when Maluvuidi Mafuta found the target to make it 2-2.

But Diarra scored her second of the game in the dying seconds to grab all three points for Mail.

The results mean that Saturday's final Group B games will decide who joins Ghana in the semi-finals.

Saturday's games see Ghana play the DR Congo and Cameroon taking on Mali.