For giant-killing debutants Cape Verde and hosts South Africa it was the end of the road this evening as they crashed out of the 29th Africa Cup of Nations after surrendering to the superior fire power of Ghana and Mali respectively.

Four-time champions Ghana became the first side to zoom into the semis after overcoming hard-fighting Cape Verde 2-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Football can be cruel sometimes and that was the case this evening as Cape Verde did all the playing while the better fancied Ghanaians did the scoring.

Ghana got into the score sheet in the 53rd minute when skipper Asamoah Gyan was brought down in the Cape Verdean box by Carlitos, resulting in a penalty which super sub Mubarak Wakaso blasted in with relative ease.

The determined Cape Verdeans surged forward ceaselessly in search of an equaliser but were caught on the counter on the dot of 90 minutes. Goalie Vorzinha had moved up field to assist with the goal hunt, only for Wakaso to outrun him and slot the ball into an empty net for the back breaker.

The second quarter-final match decided at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, was forced into extra time after veteran midfielder Seydou Keita’s 58^th minute header cancelled out Tokelo Rantie’s 32nd minute lead for South Africa.

The 30 minutes of extra time ended goalless, leading to penalty shootouts, in which Mali emerged winners after scoring three of their kicks as against only one by South Africa, two of whose kicks were stopped by the Malian keeper while another was ballooned away.

Tomorrow, Nigeria take on Ivory Coast while Togo and Burkina Faso clash to determine the two other candidates for Wednesday’s semi-final games.

•Photo: Ghana’s two-goal hero Wakaso celebrates an unforgettable evening.