Mubarak Wakaso is proud to have scored his first Africa Cup of Nations goal but has been left disappointed by his suspension for Ghana's next game at the finals.
The 22 year-old midfielder converted a first-half penalty that handed Ghana a 1-0 win over Mali, a result which takes Black Stars to the top in the Group B standings with four points from their opening two matches.
With Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan relinquishing his penalty kick duties, Wakaso stepped up ahead of other players to fire past the Malian goalkeeper Samassa Mamadou for the winner.
“I have to feel happy [to score debut Nations Cup goal],” Wakaso told www.ghanafa.org. “It’s not easy to get a goal for your nation and it was the only goal for the game.”
“We have Agyemang Badu and Isaac Vorsah but when the kick came, Badu was down with injury and Vorsah was at the back and that is the reason why I took the penalty.”
But his goal celebration will cost him a place in Kwesi Appiah's team for the final group game against Niger on Monday through suspension after picking a second yellow card in the competition.
Wakaso, after scoring was booked for displaying a slogan when he lifted up his jersey to reveal "Allah is Great" emblazoned on his t-shirt.
“I feel bad but I have to accept it because it’s part of the game,” he said.
“But we still need to work hard and get our final three points.”
The midfielder, who did not finish the game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Thursday after he was carried off with an injury to his knee is hoping it improves.
“I feel a little pain but I don’t know how I will look tomorrow [Friday].”