(CNN) -- Ghana, the four time champion of the African Cup of Nations, took a giant step towards qualifying for the quarterfinals following a 1-0 win over Mali in South Africa Thursday.
Mubarak Wakaso's 38th minute penalty was enough to separate the two teams in a game which the Black Stars dominated.
But the contest could have turned out in a very diferent fashion had Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda been sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside of his penalty area.
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The incident occurred with just eight minutes played in Port Elizabeth when Dauda clearly used his hands to field the ball and deny Mali a clear effort on goal.
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The referee remarkably only produced a yellow card, a decision which was later criticized by Mali coach Patrice Carteron.
He told reporters: "The referee did not help us because he ought to have sent off the Ghana goalkeeper rather than just booking him for handling the ball outside his area.
"Ghana was better, especially in the first half, but we still have a game to qualify for the next round and so we will forget this match and focus on our next game."
After the early let-off, Ghana began to assert itself and came close to taking the lead when Emmanuel Agyeman Badu crashed a header against the post.
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But Ghana didn't have to wait long for the breakthrough as Wakaso stroked home from the spot following Adam Tamboura's foul on Agyeman Badu.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in South Africa on Saturday. It is one of the world's most exciting tournaments including players who ply their trade in some of Europe's top leagues. Among them is Fuad Ibrahim, a young American striker who once played for the U.S Under-17 and Under-20 teams.
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Mali tried to force an equalizer after the break and Seydou Keita came close to connecting with Mahamane Traore's pass, but Ghana held out for the points.
"We were much more tactically disciplined in this game than against DR Congo, but I know we can do a lot better than we did today," Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah told reporters.
Captain Asamoah Gyan added: "It was a difficult game. We needed to win and now we have four points, but we need more to qualify to the next stage and so we will not underrate Niger."
The result leaves Ghana at the top of Group B on four points from its two games, one point clear of Mali going into the final round of games.
In the day's other game, Niger held on for its first ever point at the Africa Cup of Nations after holding Democratic Republic of Congo to a goalless draw.
"With such great players from Niger, you can only be proud of them," Niger coach Gernot Rohr told reporters.
"I'm very happy we have made some kind of history by collecting our first Cup of Nations point. We have made some progress in this competition after losing all three matches in Gabon last year."
Niger's Modibo Sidibe wasted his side's best chance on 10 minutes when he ran clear on goal only to fire his effort against the base of the post.
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Dieumerci Mbokani went close for the Leopards, having his fierce effort well saved by Niger goalkeeper Daouda Kassaly.
West Bromwich Albion midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu then fired wide as Democratic Republic of Congo continued to pile on the pressure.
Niger's Kassaly continued to keep his side in the contest with a couple of outstanding saves, while at the other end, Moussa Maazou went close with a header.
Ghana, which last won the competition in 1982, will face Niger in its final group game on Monday with Mali taking on Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Born in France to a Cameroonian father and French mother, Assou-Ekotto opted to represent Cameroon in football.
In the summer of 2006, the skilful left back left northern French club Lens to join Tottenham, in London.
His first spell at Spurs was blighted by serious injuries but Assou-Ekotto eventually made his mark. He was voted the north London team's most improved player during the 2008/09 season.
Assou-Ekotto dropped out of school at the age of 16 to focus on football. Today, he's started a foundation promoting the idea of teaching youth in a practical and interesting way.
The BA32 foundation is aiming to encourage children across the world to learn more about mathematics, science and technology.
Ibrahim, seen here lining up for Toronto in the MLS, has been chosen to play for the Ethiopia national team at the Africa Cup of Nations.
According to Thomas Rongen, who was then the coach of the U.S. Under-20 team, Ibrahim was one of the most talented young players to come through the national set up. But things did not work out and, after dropping down to the NASL with his hometown club the Minnesota Stars, Ibrahim was released at the end of last season.
Despite being a free agent Ibrahim was contacted by the Ethiopian Football Federation to see whether he would like to play for the country of his birth. After thinking about it, he agreed and joined the team's training camp in Addis Ababa.
As a newcomer, and someone who doesn't speak much of the language, Ibrahim had to win his squad mates over. His first start was against Tanzania, where he scored in a 2-1 victory.
Ethiopia's qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations is not the only football success that the country is enjoying. They have secured four points in their first two 2014 World Cup qualification matches, including a 1-1 draw against South Africa.
The image most people have of Ethiopia is of the devastating famine in the mid-1980s that killed millions of people. Ibrahim's family survived and left for the U.S. in the 1990s for a better life and more opportunities for their young son.
Ibrahim is not the first U.S. soccer star to move abroad. National teams across the world, including Palestine, Haiti and Afghanistan, have tapped into their American diasporas to bolster their squads. Omar Jarun (pictured center, who was born in Kuwait to an American mother and Palestinian father, was raised in Georgia but now plays for the Palestinian national soccer team.
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