Ghana rally to win playoff thriller

KUMASI, Ghana -- Hosts Ghana staged a stirring second half revival to beat Ivory Coast 4-2 on Saturday to claim third place in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari put Ghana ahead in the 10th minute, but pre-tournament favorites Ivory Coast quickly hit back.

Boubacar Sanogo dribbled past John Mensah to level affairs in the 24th minute and then scored again seven minutes later to give Ivory Coast a 2-1 lead at halftime.

Sanogo's first goal was the 94th of the 2008 tournament -- one more than the previous best set in Burkina Faso 10 years ago.

The goals continued in the second half as Quincy Owusu-Abeyie equalized for Ghana from close range in the 70th.

Chelsea's Michael Essien then set up Junior Agogo to put them 3-2 up in the 80th and Haminu Draman sealed victory with a 22-meter effort five minutes from time.

"We played a fantastic game," Ghana coach Claude Le Roy said.

Cameroon meet Egypt in Sunday's final in Accra, looking to avenge defeats in a crucial 2006 World Cup qualifier and in the opening group match of the current tournament.

"Every cycle must come to an end," Cameroon coach Otto Pfister said. "And so tomorrow we will break this cycle."

Cameroon will be looking to match Egypt's total of five African titles when the teams meet at Ohene Djan stadium.

The 70-year-old Pfister has yet to win the African Cup after losing to Ivory Coast as coach of Ghana in 1992. E-mail to a friend

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