Ghana thrashed hosts Equatorial Guinea to qualify to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations despite violent scenes holding up the game for over 30 minutes on Thursday.

The semi-final game against the tournament hosts at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo suffered the long break as riot police tried to control the home supporters while Ghana fans amassed behind the goal as they fled from their seats.

Ghana will meet Ivory Coast in the final match which will be played at the Bata Stadium on Sunday.

Both sides last met in the final of the competition some 23 years ago, when the Ivorians edged the Black Stars to the trophy after a marathon penalty shoot-out in Senegal.

The Black Stars had taken a 2-0 lead into half-time, having opened the scoring when Jordan Ayew dispatched a penalty after Kwesi Appiah had been fouled by keeper Felipe Ovono.

Avram Grant's side doubled their lead when Mubarak Wakaso drilled home following a counter-attack.

After recess, Andre Ayew, who captained the team in the absence of the injured Asamoah Gyan tapped in Ghana's third on 75 minutes and with only eight minutes left, the focus turned to their fans, who left the stands to seek safety behind one of the goals.

The referee had to halt the game after supporters of the home team started throwing missiles on the pitch with Ghanaian fans in the stands also being attacked.

Ghana fans had to be ushered into the running tracks as police tried to stop the Equatorial Guineans from throwing bottles to the pitch.

The win will see the Black Stars make an historic 9th appearance at the finals of the competition with their last coming in 2010 where they were losing finalists to Egypt.