( CNN ) -- John Mensah proved the match-winner for Ghana as they beat Botswana 1-0 at the Africa Cup of Nations but his side had to fight hard for their victory after the defender was sent off . Mensah struck the only goal of the game on 25 minutes but will now miss Ghana 's next match with Mali after he was shown a straight red card for a professional foul . Ghana 's ten-men clung onto to three points to go top of Group D , while they were later joined by Mail who beat Guinea 1-0 thanks to Bakaye Traore 's goal . Mensah , who plays for French club Lyon , bundled a corner into the net with his knee after a flick on from Asamoah Gyan , who is on loan at Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates from English club Sunderland . African ambition : Tiny nations host football feast . Gyan had a chance to double Ghana 's lead soon after but he blazed over the crossbar before Botswana squandered their best chance when John Boye cleared Moemedi Moatlhaping 's header . Mensah was dismissed in the 67th minute , bringing down Jerome Ramatlhokwane as the striker raced clear on goal , but Botswana could n't force an equalizer . `` We controlled the game until the red card for Mensah , '' Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic was reported as saying by the AFP news agency . `` We created some chances but they closed down the game with 10 men behind the ball . `` All the same , it was very important that we won our first game of a tournament that has already produced some surprises . '' Botswana coach Stanley Tshosane defended his team 's defensive tactics . `` I 'm not happy with the result but with the performance especially in the second half , '' said Tshosane . `` We were cautious at the beginning because we have never played Ghana before at this level and so we preferred to study how they play . '' Mali are also on three points after they saw off Guinea in the Gabonese capital of Franceville . The only goal of the match was scored when Bakaye Traore 's long range strike deflected off a defender to loop over Guinea 's goalkeeper Naby Yattara on the half hour mark .
Ghana beat Botswana 1-0 in Africa Cup of Nations Group D match . John Mensah scores the winner for Ghana but then gets sent off . - The U.S. women's national team wins a gold medal at the London Olympics after beating Japan 2-1 on penalty kicks to win their first Olympic soccer title since 1984. beat Guinea 1-0 in other Group D game thanks to Bakaye Traore goal .