Second half goals to Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew settled the Group D match after both sides had battled it out in a tense but physical first half.

And Guinea kept their hopes of qualifying after sweeping past Botswana with a 6-1 scoreline in a thrilling performance in Franceville.

The Al Ain marksman Gyan finally broke the deadlock for four-time African champions Ghana with a curling free kick that flew over the Malian wall and into the top left corner.

The Eagles came close to equalising in the 67-minute through Modibo Maiga when he jumped above the Black Stars defence but his header only shaved the top of goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey’s post to maintain Ghana's lead.

The climax came in the 73rd minute when a back heel from Gyan set up Olympique Marseille's Ayew, who brilliantly turned two of his markers inside out to score.

In the earlier match, Guinea grabbed an early lead through Sadio Diallo, who latched on to a cross from the left to finish past Modiri Marumo.

The southern African side restored parity briefly through Dipsy Selolwane, who scored from the spot after Naby Yattara brought down Jerome Ramatlhakwana while trying to clear a poor back pass from Bobo Balde.

The equaliser was controversial, however, after Yattara saved Selolwane's initial attempt, but the referee ordered the spot kick to be retaken having adjudged that the keeper had come off his line before the shot was taken.

Diallo then took advantage of some slack defending to rifle another close range finish, before goals from Abdoul Camara and the impressive Ibrahima Traore gave Guinea a thoroughly deserved 4-1 lead at half-time.

The game was effectively over as a contest when Botswana substitute Patrick Motsepe was sent off late in the first half for a dangerous tackle on Pascal Feindouno.

The west Africans could - and should - have had a bigger lead early in the second half after Feindouno's shot hit the crossbar and crossed the line, but Guinea's claims for a goal were waved away by the referee.

Botswana's respite was short-lived, however, with Mamadou Bah bagging the fifth from a deflected long range strike before substitute Naby Soumah completed the rout to give Guinea their biggest ever win at the Africa Cup of Nations.